The Cleveland Browns enter the 2025 offseason with a pressing need at running back that Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson could just fill.
While Nick Chubb has been the heart of the backfield for years, his season-ending broken right foot just compounds atop his devastating knee injury, casting serious doubt on his future.
Beyond Chubb, the depth chart is thin and lacks a clear long-term answer. With the Browns holding five draft picks in the top 105 picks of the 2025 NFL Draft, they are in a prime position to capitalize on one of the most talented running back classes in recent memory.
Henderson, the explosive rusher from Ohio State and a reigning national champion, should be high on their radar. Henderson brings elite speed, vision, and playmaking ability—traits the Browns desperately need. Securing a top-tier running back like Henderson could be the key to rejuvenating our offense and returning to a dominant ground game.
Measurements and class
Height: 5-foot-9 (unofficial)
Weight: 208 lbs (unofficial)
Class: Fourth Year Senior
Strengths
- He possesses all-world explosiveness and long speed to ensure that he can make any call, a house call
- Elite ball security: Henderson finished his collegiate career with 667 touches; none resulted in a lost fumble
- Excels as a pass protector and consistently neutralizes rushers with incredible force considering his size
- His vision and processing are top-notch; he finds and manipulates angles of pursuing defenders, leaving them in a poor position
Weaknesses
- Injury history, including a broken left foot requiring surgery, causing him to miss the remainder of his 2022 season, and an exacerbation of that injury in 2023, causing him to miss three additional games
- Can lose balance while changing direction at high speed
Notes
- Awards: 2021 Freshman All-American, 2022 honorable mention All-Big Ten, 2023 first-team All-Big Ten, 2024 CFB National Champion
- #1 running back recruit in the 2021 high school recruiting class coming off of a special junior season in which he rushed for 2,424 yards and 45 touchdowns
- TreVeyon Henderson will turn 23 years old in October
- He led all draft-eligible running backs in EPA per play and EPA per rush in 2024
Summary
In just his third collegiate game, TreVeyon Henderson made an immediate impression by shattering the Ohio State freshman single-game rushing record, previously held by Archie Griffin, by 31 yards. He finished his 2021 campaign with 1,248 running yards and 15 touchdowns. The next two seasons were marred by injuries to his left foot.
Although some teams may be concerned about Henderson’s durability, there is no denying his potential as a game-changing player. In fact, of his 145 carries in the 2024 season, 21 of them went for at least 15 yards. It’s no stretch to believe that Henderson has the talent and instincts to consistently produce chunk plays at the next level.
There are no holes in his game on film. Based on film alone, I’d dare to put him as high as the RB2 in this class behind Boise State’s phenom Ashton Jeanty. The only thing holding him back is the health of his left foot. NFL teams and their medical staff should get a better look at him in April during the scouting combine.
Ultimately, with uncertainty surrounding Chubb’s health and no proven successors on the roster, adding a dynamic talent like Henderson could provide stability to our running back rotation and bring more explosive plays to the offense. Cleveland must strongly consider taking a running back in this draft. I believe that Henderson is worthy of our consideration as early as pick 33 in the 2025 NFL draft.
