Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken officially launched the team’s quarterback competition, signaling that Shedeur Sanders will be a central figure while Deshaun Watson aims to reclaim his starting job as offseason workouts approach.
Speaking from the owners meeting in Phoenix, Monken confirmed that, although the Browns promised an open competition, initial reps between quarterbacks will not be divided equally, with the distribution guided by past performance and how each player finished last season.
At the NFL league meetings, Monken said, “We’re going to start reps based on what we’ve seen in the past and where the year ended.”
It’s a clear message that indicates that while daily adjustments will ensure fairness, initial priorities favor those with proven experience and results.
And according to ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi, the share of snaps will adjust daily to ensure a fair evaluation, yet Sanders and Watson appear positioned to dominate early, leaving Dillon Gabriel and other options at a disadvantage, creating a layered and competitive scenario.
Browns owner weights in on QB battle at Cleveland
Sanders led the Browns to three wins over seven starts last season, including consecutive victories over the Steelers and Bengals in Weeks 17 and 18, the team’s only back-to-back wins, showing momentum and readiness as he enters the offseason under Monken.
Watson, meanwhile, has not started since October 20, 2024, nor led Cleveland to consecutive wins since Weeks 9 and 10 of 2023, positioning Sanders as the rising contender, while Watson attempts to use the fresh start under Monken to reclaim his role in the QB room.
Dillon Gabriel, who earned first-team reps last year before a concussion ended his run, has not been a focus for Monken, and with the Browns likely to add another quarterback via draft or free agency, Gabriel‘s future appears uncertain, and his share of reps may be minimal.
And it seems as though the Browns owner is content with either of Watson or Sanders heading into the 2026 NFL season as the starter – if Cleveland doesn’t opt to pick another QB in the upcoming NFL Draft.
“Deshaun has a great chance, fresh start, an offensive-minded coach,” Jimmy Haslam said. “Who has in his past been able to work with all kinds of different quarterbacks and make them successful. Deshaun has a great chance to do that now.
“I was in Cleveland two or three weeks ago, and was working out early and he was coming in. He’s been in Cleveland most of the winter, and I think that says a lot for his dedication to wanting to be an NFL quarterback and understanding what it takes.”
The Browns’ decision will be based on performance, evaluating Sanders, Watson, and Gabriel during OTAs and training camp, with Monken rewarding preparation and execution.
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