The skill Dylan Sampson rarely got to showcase at Tennessee is why he’s been named a breakout candidate for the Browns in 2026
Former Tennessee Volunteers running back Dylan Sampson is entering his second season with the Cleveland Browns. Sampson was selected by the Browns in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Former Tennessee Vols running back Dylan Sampson is entering his second season with the Cleveland Browns.
Sampson, a fourth-round selection by the Browns in the 2025 NFL Draft, rushed for 175 yards as a rookie last season while also catching 33 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns.
CBS Sports names Dylan Sampson a potential breakout candidate for the Browns in 2026
Earlier this week, CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan named Sampson as an “under-the-radar breakout star candidate” for the Browns in 2026.
Part of the reason Sullivan went with Sampson as a breakout candidate in Cleveland despite being the No. 2 running back behind Quinshon Judkins is his pass-catching ability in new Browns head coach Todd Monken’s offense.
“All eyes will be on Quinshon Judkins as he represents the lead back for Cleveland’s running game, but don’t dismiss fellow 2025 draftee Dylan Sampson,” wrote Sullivan. “He could be a 1B in this Browns backfield, particularly on passing downs after catching 33 of his 40 targets last season for 271 yards and two touchdowns.
“Running backs have been involved in the target share of Todd Monken’s offenses in the past, and he’ll likely utilize Sampson in this third-down/passing situation role. When Monken was the OC for Cleveland back in 2019, Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb combined for 73 receptions, 563 receiving yards, and a touchdown on 93 targets. Judkins will certainly factor into the target share, but this is where Sampson could thrive.”
Catching passes isn’t something Sampson was asked to do much of during his time at Tennessee.
Sampson, in fact, caught just 40 passes in three seasons with the Vols before nearly topping that total as a rookie in the NFL last season.
The Louisiana native pointed out before last year’s draft that it’s a skill he didn’t get to showcase much at Tennessee.
“I also wanted to show my receiving capabilities,” said Sampson after Pro Day at Tennessee last year. “Show that I can run routes and catch the ball naturally.”
“That’s something I know I can do, all along,” added Sampson. “I just didn’t get much of a chance to show it. But hopefully all the scouts and all the coaches out here saw that. Even though I haven’t practiced it that much, that it’s still natural to me. The sky’s the [limit] for me in the receiver aspect.”
“A lot of (NFL) teams believe that I can be an asset in the passing game, I just haven’t got a chance to show it,” continued Sampson. “I think a lot of teams had questions, but hopefully they’re starting to see that.”
Sampson has a chance to be an Alvin Kamara-type talent in the NFL — someone who is a threat on the ground and in the air. After all, we already know he can pick up tough yards on the ground after rushing for 1,491 yards at Tennessee in 2024 (which earned him SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors). Now we know he can be an electric threat in the passing game, too.