Contenders are often defined by how well they run the football in the second half of the season. As the weather turns and games get more physical, teams that can lean on their ground game tend to control the clock and close out tight finishes. That is something the Browns have struggled to do through 4 games. One national analyst believes the solution could come via trade.
Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report identified running back as one of Cleveland’s biggest needs and named 3 potential targets. He believes the team could target Tony Pollard, Tyler Allgeier, or Kenneth Gainwell.
“Sanders and even McLaughlin have proven they can be secondary backs who help in the passing game. Targeting Kenneth Gainwell would just be a more experienced version of that kind of back. Pollard is the lead back in Tennessee, but he’s 29 and in the final year of his contract. They have Tyjae Spears and Nicholas Singleton to take over. Tyler Allgeier has successfully shared backfield duties in Arizona and Atlanta,” Ballentine wrote.
Ballentine was blunt about the current state of the position. He called Quinshon Judkins one of the most disappointing players on the roster, pointing to a 40.7% success rate and just 3.0 yards per carry.
That assessment is harsh, but it needs context. Judkins has forced 18 missed tackles, among the most in the league, which suggests he is creating plenty on his own behind an offensive line still adjusting to 5 new starters. The problem is that too many of his runs are starting in trouble.
Tony Pollard is the most established name of the group. The 1-time Pro Bowler has rushed for more than 6,000 yards in his career, and with younger backs waiting behind him in Tennessee, the winless Titans have little reason to hold on to him.
Tyler Allgeier brings a different appeal. Born in Youngstown, he rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a rookie with the Atlanta Falcons in 2022 and has spent much of his career splitting carries, which would make a timeshare with Judkins a natural fit. With rookie Jeremiah Love pushing for more work in Arizona, the Cardinals might be willing to listen.
Kenneth Gainwell would be more of a role player. The Super Bowl champion is a pass-catching back, and as Ballentine pointed out, the Browns already have similar options in Raheim Sanders and Jaleel McLaughlin, who broke off a 28-yard touchdown run against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Dylan Sampson’s spot on injured reserve only adds to the need, leaving the Browns leaning heavily on Judkins for the bulk of the early-down work.
Ballentine also laid out why Cleveland can afford to be aggressive. The Browns sit atop the AFC North and face a manageable stretch of their schedule, yet they rank just 26th in ESPN’s Football Power Index, a sign the analytics remain skeptical of their start.
Adding a back would not solve every problem, but it would give Todd Monken a better way to protect leads and take pressure off Deshaun Watson late in games. With the November 10 deadline approaching, finding a reliable complement to Judkins could be one of the most practical moves Andrew Berry makes this fall.
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