Director of Player Personnel, Dan Saganey (4.26.25)
Can you just talk about kind of Quinshon (Judkins) and (Dylan) Sampson, you know, doubling up at that position and just how you sort of see them kind of contrasting, playing off of each other in a perfect world?
“Yeah, I would start by saying we’re really excited to add Dylan to the group. Obviously, with Quinshon, both, like, explosive runners. You know, Dylan was SEC Player of the Year, very productive player in both phases. Brings a good complimentary skill set with Q. You know, both guys have had high levels of production in the SEC. You got – both guys have really good speed, run with toughness, and have pass game value. So anytime we can add two ‘backs that can play on all three downs, we’re excited.”
So, Dan, just knowing that production with Dylan specifically, were you guys surprised he was still available to you at this point in the draft? And I know everyone always talks about value on day three, so was there just immense value there with his production coupled where you guys were picking?
“Yeah, I think we talk about it every year. And here, like, day three, everybody’s board is so different. So, for us, it’s the opportunity to take, you know, a really productive player that we liked through the process. We were able to spend some good time with him at the combine and just feel really good about the production mixed with the person. He’s what we describe as an ‘orange dot’ type of player and person. So anytime you get a really productive, complimentary player to your offense at the right price, which was great value for us here, pretty excited to add him and just take him off the board and put him in the room and get ready to go.”
He had 258 carries last year, that’s a high volume…
“Yeah, I certainly hope so. I mean, anytime you’re winning SEC Offensive Player of the Year with that volume of production, you know, I think it says a lot about how you take care of your body and, you know, how durable you are as a player.”
How do you envision using him in the scheme? Could he be a returner?
“So he would be, you know, a developmental returner for us. He’s a guy that when you have multiple backs and guys that have return experience in the room. Between our receiver room, our running back room with Jerome (Ford), you know, there’s plenty of options there. So, the new kickoff rule is, you know, an evolving thing. And I think it’s a good question for Bubba (Ventrone) and our staff once we get everybody into the building, you know, see how guys do field and ball, and he certainly has the speed and toughness to run and be a productive NFL returner.”
Dan, Harold Fannin, new to the position but crazy productive at the college level. So what do you see in him now versus what you might see in two or three years with Fannin?
“Oh, man, I mean, I know we talked about him last night. Obviously really good fit for the offense. Elite hands and for an offense that values tight end play, especially having multiple tight ends that can do a lot of different things. A guy that can get open, catch the ball, obviously at record breaking pace like he did, and then run after the catch. Anytime you can pair that with a guy like David (Njoku), longer term you have two options that are real pass game weapons and provide a lot of value to the offense as you go. So allows us to play how we want to play too.”
Offensive line would seem to, just based on what you guys currently have and where guys are in their career and contracts and things like that, how hard has it been to not draft for a position of need when it comes to the offensive line and then also how do you balance that with some of these other picks that you’ve made, like taking (Dillon) Gabriel there at the end of the third round?
“Well, I mean, I’ll start by saying this. I think we feel really good about where we’re at with our offensive line group right now. You know, we obviously have a lot of experienced veterans in our, call it, frontline starters right now and then behind them we have good depth. We were able to add, (Teven) Jenkins, who’s played guard, played tackle. You know, we feel really good about Zak Zinter’s development and a bunch of the young guys in that room. As far as, you know, how we pair together the draft and piece them together, it really just becomes, you know, best available. Guy that’s the best fit, we think long term and we still got a couple picks left. There’s a few offensive linemen left that, I’m sure we’d love to add if the opportunity comes. But really when you’re piecing together everything in the draft, we’re looking for the best value, best players, best cultural fit, guys that fit how we want to play on both sides of the ball and you know, goes across multiple positions.”
Dillon, you mentioned some of that development. What are some of the attributes that he has that you are maybe looking to get the most out of when he gets in here and starts working with the organization?
“Yeah, Dillon is a guy that I think just has such a natural feel for the game as a quarterback. His ability to navigate the pocket, his ability to escape pressure, to throw with anticipation, touch, accuracy. He’s really just like how I would describe him as a very natural quarterback. So, he’s done it across multiple levels of competition at three different schools. He stepped in and, you know, shown the ability to win and be ultra productive at the position and you know, he’s a guy that can play in a shotgun RPO system. We think he has good value with a lot of the things that we do offensively. And again, when you piece together the person and just how they play the position, the accuracy and the feel, you know, you feel really good about that translating and developing further once you get them in the building.”
With the depth of this running back class, did you guys go in thinking or knowing that you would take two?
“Honestly, I don’t think it was a plan or like something that you’re saying, ‘hey, we need two ‘backs out of this draft.’ Like, we feel good with the guys that are here too. Again, we’re trying to add, you know, the best competition we can. You know, obviously Q’s (Quinshon Judkins) a really good player, Dylan’s (Sampson) going to be a really good player. So, you’re just, you’re excited to add high level talent when you think you can get it. And then, you know, when we’re in day three and everybody’s board kind of goes all over the place in the league, if a guy’s sitting there and you’re excited to take him, you just turn the card in and get ready to go.”
How different do you think their styles are (Q and Dylan)?
“It’s a good question. I don’t want to pin like a certain style on either guy because I think, I mean, you know, both guys have been super productive rushers both in the SEC from when Q was at Ole Miss. But you know, I think like when you pair the two of them together, you have two fast guys that run hard, run with energy. Both guys are kind of what I would describe as like Energizer Bunny type of runners but also have power and three down value so they can help you in both phases. Both guys have really natural, vision, strength, acceleration, speed, everything that we look for in a ‘back in our system. So should pair well together.”
Kind of, kind of along that line as you build the roster. I’m thinking back to like you, you know, when you guys had Nick (Chubb) and Kareem (Hunt) together for so long, how important is it to have like two starting caliber backs on your roster?
“Yeah, I think it’s huge in the NFL and these, you know, this day and age obviously those are two elite guys right there and you know, we’re hoping to get that level of production out of these guys. It’s something that you hope anytime you draft a player, they can be as productive as they prove to be in college. But yeah, I mean, having two backs is extremely important. It’s a position where we obviously value running the football in our organization. And again, guys that have speed, toughness, run with vision and instincts. Anytime you get two, you’re excited and, you know, don’t have to have one guy totally carry the load. You can keep people fresh and wear people down over the course of the game.”
With you guys finishing tied for second last in the NFL last year with only eight rushing touchdowns, how much did you need that infusion of the running game and how much do you think that a bolstered and rejuvenated running game is going to help whoever’s starting at quarterback, your defense and everything else about this football team?
“Yeah, that’s a great question. I think it naturally does. You know, the ability to run the football in when you’re a yard or two away helps. I mean, you know, we had Kareem and Nick. We were very fortunate to have two high level NFL backs here for a long time. And you know, Judkins has proven to be super productive in that area. He’s got good power behind him. And then with Dylan, same thing. [He] has speed, has touchdown production. We’re always looking for guys that can score touchdowns at any offensive position. These guys both have proven that against the highest level of competition in the country.”
So, I was going to ask you about your number one option as a short yardage back. Would probably be Judkins at this point, right?
“I would let Kevin (Stefanski) answer that one honestly, like that’s the good thing about both players in my opinion is they both have power behind their pads and both guys have that element of speed. Judkins is a little bit bigger, so I think that would kind of be the natural thought process there. But ultimately, you know, in our system, your ability to put your foot in the ground and get up the field. That one-yard burst of acceleration matters as much as being 220 pounds, too.”
The room’s getting crowded and (Nick) Chubb’s still out there. We asked yesterday, what Judkins draft would mean for Chubb’s future? So I’m going to ask two backs, what does that mean for Chubb’s future here?
“I mean, obviously, I would defer those questions to Andrew (Berry) and Kevin (Stefanski). Ultimately, we’re really excited to add two young backs. And again, you know, to the questions earlier, it’s a position where, hey, we knew we needed an infusion in that room in general, regardless of the vets that are available on the street. You know, with Nick, with the guys in the room, it’s, hey, we’re going to add some talented players when we get an opportunity to do it.”
# # #
***Visit the Browns Media Center for materials provided by the Browns communications department, including media schedules, press releases, quotes, photos, media guides, rosters, depth charts and more.***