Browns coach Monken praises Sanders' development as Watson QB competition looms

Todd Monken has been in the Cleveland Browns' head coaching job for only a few weeks, but he's already fielded the same question repeatedly: what's the plan at quarterback? The answer is becoming clearer, though not yet settled. On Wednesday, during the team's second organized team activity, Monken offered his first substantial take on Shedeur Sanders, the fifth-round pick from last year's draft who finished 2025 as the Browns' starting quarterback. "I think Shedeur's come miles, in terms of his progressions, getting the ball out, his understanding of concepts," Monken told reporters. "I think he's really, really come a long way."

Sanders' path to that starting role was unconventional. The Browns opened the 2025 season with Joe Flacco, then switched to Dillon Gabriel when Flacco was traded to Cincinnati. When Sanders finally got his chance against Las Vegas, he won the game—his first NFL start—and Stefanski, the previous head coach, kept him in the lineup for the rest of the season. Now, with Monken taking over from Stefanski, the quarterback room has shifted again. Deshaun Watson, the $230 million investment from 2022 who tore his Achilles in October 2024 and missed all of last season, is back on the field. During OTA drills, both Sanders and Watson are taking split first-team repetitions, a clear signal that the competition is real and unresolved.

Watson's return carries its own weight of expectation and disappointment. The Browns traded for him and signed him to a fully guaranteed five-year deal, betting that his talent would transform the franchise. Instead, injury derailed that plan almost immediately. Now, watching him move around the field again, Monken sees something worth noting. "Obviously he's had that athleticism, but he's had injuries that have set him back," Monken said. "I wouldn't say it's a surprise, but it's exciting to see—it's a weapon for him. It's one of his superpowers."

The depth chart extends beyond these two. Dillon Gabriel remains on the roster, as does rookie Taylen Green, drafted this year. But the real battle is between Watson and Sanders. Monken has made clear he won't rush the decision—spring practice doesn't always resolve every position—but he does intend to name a starter before training camp begins in July. That deadline gives both quarterbacks roughly six weeks to prove themselves in practice and, if the team schedules them, in preseason games.

For Sanders, the praise from his new coach suggests he's earned genuine consideration despite Watson's pedigree and contract. For Watson, the athleticism Monken highlighted is a reminder of why the Browns committed so heavily to him in the first place. The competition that unfolds over the next month will determine not just who takes the first snap in September, but what the Browns' quarterback future actually looks like—whether it belongs to the veteran trying to reclaim his form, or the young player who seized an unexpected opportunity.