Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken once around danced around questions regarding the team’s quarterback competition.
A 34-10 preseason opening defeat to the Chicago Bears was not the best start to Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken’s first campaign at the helm. A quarterback competition between veteran Deshaun Watson and sophomore Shedeur Sanders has not only captured the attention of both the Browns’ roster and fanbase but also the entirety of the NFL. When asked about a timeline for naming the starting signal caller, Monken danced around the question once again. Team beat reporter Chris Easterling shared Monken’s evasive response via X, formerly Twitter.
“Would I like to have a decision today?” remarked Monken. “Of course. Would I like a decision by next Monday? Of course. I’d love to have that decision. And we’ll see. We’ve got a lot of football this week. We’ve already had a lot of football. We’ve got four days of practice and a game. That all adds into any decision with the roster and who the starters are.”
While the Browns do have a couple of other positional battles, it’s clear that the quarterback competition is the main focus. It looks like either Watson or Sanders will be the starter, with 2025 third-rounder Dillon Gabriel also on the roster. Monken was reportedly high on Sanders heading into last year’s draft. In fact, the Baltimore Ravens, where Monken served as offensive coordinator the last few seasons, considered taking Sanders as a backup for franchise signal caller Lamar Jackson.
However, Sanders landed in Cleveland, as the Browns picked him in the fifth round last April. The former Colorado standout showed flashes during his rookie season and was even named to the Pro Bowl roster. Meanwhile, the Watson trade and subsequent fully guaranteed extension have hamstrung Cleveland’s cap situation. Will the former Pro Bowl signal caller finally rediscover the form he left in Houston? If not, then Sanders could be the answer under center for Monken come Week 1.
A 34-10 preseason opening defeat to the Chicago Bears was not the best start to Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken’s first campaign at the helm. A quarterback competition between veteran Deshaun Watson and sophomore Shedeur Sanders has not only captured the attention of both the Browns’ roster and fanbase but also the entirety of the NFL.
