Would the value be right for the Giants to pick Judkins?
Should the New York Giants select a running back in the 2025 NFL Draft? They’re going to have to make that decision at some point over the course of the weekend.
The value of the running back position is at a recent high thanks to the proliferation of Cover 4 defenses and light boxes to tamp down on explosive passing attacks. And coincidentally, 2025 looks to be a remarkably strong running back class. This year’s class should provide multiple teams with new starting caliber running backs.
Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins is one of those runners who could fit with just about any team, yet could slip a bit thanks to the depth of talent in this class. But even if his versatility appeals to the Giants, will the value be right for Judkins to join Tyrone Tracy in New York’s backfield?
Prospect: Quinshon Judkins (1)
Games Watched: vs. Iowa (2024), vs. Oregon (2024), vs. Penn State (2024), vs. Indiana (2024)
Measurables
Height: 6-foot (estimated)
Weight: 215 pounds (estimated)
Strengths
Best traits
- Competitive toughness
- Quickness
- Agility
- Vision
- Contact balance
- Pass game play
Judkins is a good-sized, versatile, tough running back prospect.
Judkins has a dense and versatile frame at 6-foot, 215 pounds (listed), as well as a twitchy athleticism. His blend of size, quickness, agility, and twitch allows him to execute a wide variety of running plays and is equally dangerous off-tackle and up the middle. He does a great job of running with good tempo behind the line of scrimmage, giving his blocks time to materialize before exploding through the hole. He understands how to manipulate defenders and create larger rushing lanes for himself.
Judkins does a good job of identifying running lanes, allowing his blockers to establish themselves, then following them through the hole. He usually doesn’t freelance unless he has to, and generally keeps the structure of the play intact.
Judkins is also dangerous as a cutback runner thanks to a short, choppy stride which gives him great acceleration. Not only can he change speeds easily, but he’s also able to change directions easily as well. Judkins combines that choppy running style with good vision and contact balance to allow him to pick up tough yardage as well as turn tackle attempts into solid gains.
He has enough play strength to break arm tackles and survive glancing blows, and does a good job of securing the ball into contact. Likewise, he frequently looks to finish his runs by delivering hits to defenders.
Judkins is a capable piece in the passing game as well, giving him true three-down value. He’s a dependable receiver who runs his routes well, makes himself available for the quarterback, is a “hands” catcher, and does a good job of adjusting to errant throws. He’s also a very willing pass protector who seems to relish delivering hits to defenders.
Weaknesses
Worst traits
- Long speed
- Explosiveness
- Power
Judkins is a tough, physical runner, but he lacks the size and raw strength of true power backs at the NFL level. Likewise, he’s quick and has great acceleration, but he doesn’t appear to have the explosiveness or deep speed to be a consistent Home Run threat.
Judkins is a “Jack Of All Trades” running back, and that will largely work in his favor, however he doesn’t have any one area in which he truly excels.
Judkins could do a better job of sustaining his blocks. Judkins delivers hits and disrupts rushes, but he doesn’t consistently stay engaged, which can lead to second-effort pressure.
Game Tape
(Judkins is the Ohio State running back wearing number 1)
Projection
Judkins projects as an important running back in an active backfield rotation. He has the upside to start if a team so desires, but he might be best playing opposite a specialist who can emphasize speed or power.
Teams might be a bit concerned that he lacks the size to be an every-down back, but he handled a heavy workload at Ole Miss before sharing the backfield with TreVeyon Henderson at Ohio State. Judkins should be scheme diverse and able to execute both man-gap and zone runs, and could thrive in an offense with a varied rushing attack that also uses him in the passing game.
Judkins might not do any one thing well enough to truly set himself apart in a deep running back class, but he does so much well that it will be difficult to keep him off the field.
Does he fit the Giants?
Yes, though the value might not be appropriate for where they’d need to draft him.
Final Word: A second-round value
