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Frank Dyevoich, a former defense attorney, analyzes the legal troubles that Quinshon Judkins faces and how it will affect his 2025 Fantasy Football value. Read the latest fantasy football player outlook for Quinshon Judkins.
Cleveland Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins is in some serious trouble after he was arrested in Florida on Saturday, July 12, 2025, due to allegations of domestic violence.
Judkins is an explosive prospect out of Ohio State who was expected to take over as the primary runner for the Browns after the team selected him at the top of the second round in the NFL Draft, number 36 overall.
Now, given the severity of the allegations, he could find himself on the Commissioner's Exempt List to start his NFL career.
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The Charges Against Quinshon Judkins
Judkins is alleged to have struck his girlfriend in the mouth with a closed fist and again in her left arm and thigh while in a rented Lamborghini SUV near the Fort Lauderdale Airport on July 7, 2025. He is facing a charge of 784.03-1a1 for Battery/Touch or Strike under Florida law, a misdemeanor offense. However, do not let the fact that the charge is a misdemeanor as opposed to a felony sway you from understanding the severity of the situation.
784.03(1)(a) - The offense of battery occurs when a person:
Here is the arrest report for #Browns RB Quinshon Judkins, whose accuser told police he punched her with a closed fist in the chin/lip area and later struck her in the left arm and thigh while they were in the car leaving the airport on July 7. pic.twitter.com/dSOCbi8Y9G
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 14, 2025
The above police report paints a scary picture, and certainly qualifies Judkins for the dreaded Commissioner's Exempt List, which would keep him off the field and away from team activities until he is removed from the list.
Despite the heinous allegations in the police report, it is noteworthy that the alleged victim took pictures of her injuries. This evidence is critical in domestic violence cases because it verifies the victim's account of what happened and leaves open the possibility for the state to proceed with charges even if the victim later refuses to cooperate with a trial. However, given the recent audio that was released of the victim's 911 call to the police, it appears that she is set on following through with her allegations.
The woman who #QuinshonJudkins allegedly roughed up earlier this month told cops she had "visible bruises" and "was still in pain" several days after the incident, new 911 audio reveals.#Exclusive story at the 🔗 HERE: https://t.co/4yp4AU9ib5
📽️: Broward Sheriff’s Office pic.twitter.com/CPPtKsNfm2
— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) July 15, 2025
Judkins appeared before a judge on July 13, 2025, where his attorney argued that the victim lacks credibility and the allegations lack credibility as they were made five days after the fact. However, the "after the fact" argument never works in domestic violence cases because there are a multitude of factors that go into a victim reporting days, weeks, and even months later. The police report even addresses this argument, where it states that the victim did not come forward right away because she felt bad given Judkins' recent success and his career, but was convinced to report the incident after speaking with friends and family.
What to Expect Moving Forward
NOTE: Before I get into how I think things will play out, it is important to understand that nothing in a court of law is guaranteed. Judkins could walk away having his charges dropped, he could plead to a lesser offense, or he could face jail time. The plea deal is up to the discretion of the prosecutor and the approval of the Judge, and no one can say for certain how things will play out.
Judkins has posted his $2,500 bail. Despite the despicable allegations in the police report, Judkins will likely avoid jail time since, from all accounts, he is a first-time offender. In my experience, I have never seen a defendant serve jail time on a first-offense misdemeanor, so this would likely only result in a fine and maybe some community service/counseling. However, it is important to note that domestic violence is an aggravating factor in most states when it comes to sentencing, and Florida is one of the strictest states in regards to discipline. If any state would send a first-time offender to jail on a misdemeanor, it's Florida.
At the end of the day, I am expecting Judkins to plead guilty to a lesser offense in exchange for jail time being taken off the table. Given that a punishment from the league still looms large, and the NFL will wait until the legal proceedings have been concluded before issuing its own punishment, the type of offense is incredibly important. For example, pleading to a lesser misdemeanor assault charge would not be as favorable as a disturbing the peace charge, but it is ultimately up to the prosecutor and the judge as to which plea is acceptable to the State.
In the meantime, Judkins is facing serious ramifications already due to these allegations, as he has cancelled his youth football camp and a meet-and-greet he had previously scheduled for this month.
Will Quinshon Judkins Be Suspended?
The looming question that everyone wants to know is, "Will Judkins be suspended to start the 2025 NFL season?" The NFL is known for letting the legal proceedings play out before issuing any discipline. The best example of this unofficial policy is Deshaun Watson, as the league did not suspend him until his civil lawsuits were settled, despite there being 24 people who came forward with sexual assault allegations against him, some of whom the NFL personally interviewed during their initial investigation of Watson.
Unfortunately, certain incidents are unacceptable to the league where players are placed on the Commissioner's Exempt List ("CEL") while the court proceedings are ongoing. Players who land on the commissioner's exempt list will continue to be paid but will not count against the 53-man roster limit. They cannot play in or attend games, and they cannot practice. However, they are allowed to be present at the team facility for meetings, individual workouts, therapy, rehabilitation, and other permitted non-football activities.
Unfortunately for Judkins and the Browns, one such allegation that commonly results in a stint on the CEL is domestic violence. Recently, the CEL has been used on wide receiver Justyn Ross for allegations of battery and domestic violence in 2023, and last off-season, the Browns faced a similar situation when their rookie defensive tackle, Michael Hall Jr., was placed on the CEL to start the season after allegations of, you guessed it, domestic violence.
Further complicating the situation is Judkins' contract dispute, as he remains the only unsigned rookie on the team with hopes of landing a fully guaranteed contract. The Browns have come out and said they are putting negotiations with Judkins on hold until more information is gathered. At this rate, between the contract negotiations, the allegations, and the potential to land on the CEL, it would be shocking to see Judkins suit up and play to start the season.
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