Approaching the 2025 NFL Draft, we’ll be scouting as many of the top prospects that the Pittsburgh Steelers could have their eye on anywhere from Rounds 1 through 7. We’ll break down the prospects themselves, strengths and weaknesses, projected draft capital and their fit with the Steelers.
If the Steelers do not re-sign RB Najee Harris, the black and gold will be in the market for another ball carrier to pair with Jaylen Warren, who I anticipate returning. In my opinion, the best place to find one will be the draft. The National Champion Ohio State Buckeyes are a good place to start looking.
Position: Running back
Class: Junior
Size: 5’11, 221 lbs.
Age: 21
Projected draft round: 2nd
Quinshon Judkins stats via Sports Reference
Judkins became a household name after his three TD performance to help Ohio State secure a title. He shredded the Notre Dame defense, rushing for 100 yards and two TDs on just 11 carries and catching two passes for 21 yards and another score.
Quinshon Judkins’ vision to find the cutback lanes and his finishing ability as a runner just pops on his tape, especially last night against Notre Dame. Love his willingness as a blocker too, had a couple nice reps in the QB run game. pic.twitter.com/FyAriBS9M9
— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) January 21, 2025
Judkins started his career at Ole Miss and ran for 1,547 yards in his freshman season – the most since the great Herschel Walker in 1980. He followed that up with a 15-TD season in his sophomore campaign, earning first-team SEC honors for the second consecutive year.
He transferred to Ohio State for more exposure and the chance to contend for a title. I’d say both of those boxes are checked.
The three games I watched were Oregon (regular season), Penn State, and Notre Dame.
Here are a few of my takeaways:
Judkins is a power back who frequently seeks contact. He’s a decisive runner with above-average vision and contact balance. He also has a nose for the end zone, as the Buckeyes utilized him exclusively inside the ten-yard line.
With that said, I do have some slight concerns. He’s a below-average pass-catcher, and he did not display significant breakaway speed in games, especially when compared to his counterpart Treyveon Henderson, who should be drafted in a similar range. This assuredly will be picked apart due to the fact that Judkins just had an outstanding combine.
He clocked a 4.48 40-yard dash, a 38.5-inch vertical, and received an overall athleticism score of 92. I didn’t necessarily see that play speed on tape. But the numbers don’t lie. My best guess is he dropped weight. But given his perceived speed and physicality, he is a prospect that teams will be salivating over.
I’d anticipate one of those teams being the Pittsburgh Steelers. Although I’d prefer home run hitters like Henderson or Virginia Tech’s Bhayshal Tuten, Judkins is a complete back and a true workhorse. He’s an in-between-the-tackles guy who can also win on outside-zone runs — something offensive coordinator Arthur Smith will covet.
He’s not going to be a human joystick, and there were times he gave off Najee Harris vibes. That’s not the worst thing, and Harris was slower – so I’d anticipate Judkins would be a stronger, and much cheaper option.
Quinshon Judkins strengths
Contact balance
Decisive
Vision
Weaknesses
Pass-catching
Gets a little to juke happy
Lance Zierlein (NFL.com)
Judkins is a productive runner possessing good size and great contact aggression. His running style is both urgent and a bit chaotic. He runs with good burst inside but is more collision-based than wiggle-oriented when maneuvering through the lane. He’s efficient on runs outside the tackle box, but he has a tough time outracing pursuit to create explosive runs. He is wired and built for a heavier carry count and short-yardage success, but the disparity in yards per carry between Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, despite running behind the same line, is telling. Judkins might need to be paired with a slasher, but he has the ingredients needed to become a three-down RB1.
Alex Kennedy (Pro Football Network)
He is an incredibly energized mover. His linear acceleration enables him to capitalize on fleeting gaps, and his swift, sudden one-cut ability allows him to offset defenders and sustain acceleration through cuts.
Past his mobility profile, Judkins is an exceedingly physical runner who plays beyond his frame and finishes forward with urgent leg churn. Mentally, Judkins has very good vision, which allows him to pick out primary and secondary lanes on zone and gap runs.
He’s not as proficient as a creator in adverse or early contact situations, but on schedule, he’s dangerous. He’s an explosive carving knife with the tools to keep the chains moving.
To a large degree, Judkins fits like a glove. He’s a player who would thrive in any offense due to his diverse skill set. Keep in mind when I’m reviewing his speed and burst, it’s relative to other prospects. The dude is still one of the fastest backs in the draft.
He won't make it out of the second round, and if he’s on the board at 52, I could see the Steelers turning in the card.
What are your thoughts on Ohio State RB Quinshon Judkins? And which draft prospects would you like to see profiled next? Let us know in the comments below!
