Dylan Sampson signs rookie contract with Cleveland Browns
Dylan Sampson signed his rookie contract with the Cleveland Browns on Saturday, a deal that is reportedly worth $5.1 million over four years. The former Tennessee Football star running back was selected at in the fourth round of the NFL Draft at No. 126 overall.
The rookie contract included a $930,564 signing bonus and carries an average salary of $1,282,641. He’ll make $840,000 in base pay as a rookie, with the money going to $1,005,000 in 2026, $1,120,000 in 2027 and $1,235,000 in 2028. He’ll be a unrestricted free agent in 2029.
Sampson was one of four Tennessee players selected in the 2025 NFL Draft last month. Edge rusher James Pearce went at No. 26 overall in the first round to the Atlanta Falcons, followed by defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott in the second round at No. 63 overall to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Wide receiver Dont’e Thornton was also picked in the fourth-round, at No. 108 overall, 18 picks ahead of Sampson.
Dylan Sampson broke Tennessee rushing records last season
Sampson set Tennessee single-season rushing records in both yards and touchdowns last season, running for 1,491 yards and 22 touchdowns.
He averaged 114.7 yards per game and 5.8 yards per carry. Over three seasons at Tennessee he rushed for 2,492 yards and 35 touchdowns and caught 40 passes for 342 yards and another score.
The Browns took two running backs and two quarterbacks in its 2025 NFL Draft class.
Cleveland selected Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins with the fourth pick in the second round. The Browns took Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel in the third round, then selected Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders in the sixth round.
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The Browns took Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham with the fifth overall pick in the first round and UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger with the first pick in the second round. Cleveland also drafted Bowling Green tight end Harold Fannin Jr. in the third round.
Mel Kiper on Dylan Sampson: ‘I see burst and conviction on the tape’
Six running backs were selected over the first three rounds: Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty (No. 6, Las Vegas Raiders); North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton (No. 22, Los Angeles Chargers); Ohio State’s Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson (No. 38, New England Patriots); UCF’s RJ Harvey (No. 60, Denver Broncos); Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson (No. 83, Pittsburgh Steelers).
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. wrote before the draft that Sampson was one of his favorite later-round prospects on the board, ranking him sixth among running backs.
“I see burst and conviction on the tape — he sees the hole, commits and explodes through the gap,” Kiper wrote. “At 5-foot-8 and 200 pounds, Sampson runs with fierceness and contact balance, with 820 of his yards coming after first contact. Those traits are also useful at the goal line, where he can power in for six points. Inside 3 yards, he scored on eight of his 11 carries last season.”
