Cleveland Browns Welcomes Quarterback Competition
The Cleveland Browns have a new head coach, and it looks like the competition for the quarterback position is heating up.
During his induction press conference on Tuesday, coach Todd Monken was asked if Shedeur Sanders would be the starting quarterback in 2026. He didn’t provide a clear answer. “Like other positions in the team, that is still to be determined,” he stated. It seems like he’s keeping options open.
Monken expressed enthusiasm about coaching the team, saying, “Are you excited for Shedeur? Are you excited for all the quarterbacks in the room? Are you excited to coach this football team? Absolutely. I can’t wait for them to come back and get us started.”
With Monken taking the reins on play-calling, there is anticipation regarding the starting quarterback role, which may include Dillon Gabriel and the returning Deshaun Watson.
A recent video posted by the Browns highlighted a moment between Sanders and the Ravens’ new coach. Monken mentioned that Baltimore had interest in drafting Sanders out of Colorado, telling him he was “glad everything worked out” and suggested they could discuss it later.
Explaining his team’s interest in Sanders, Monken noted, “Obviously, like a lot of teams, we had love for Shedeur’s skill set and what we thought he could be, but I don’t want to go too deep into other teams’ processes.”
At 23, Sanders stepped in as Cleveland’s QB1 during Week 12 after Joe Flacco was traded and Gabriel was sidelined by a concussion. He started seven games, throwing for 1,400 yards, with seven touchdowns and ten interceptions.
Despite winning a Pro Bowl berth due to a season-ending injury to Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, Sanders couldn’t consolidate his position in the depth chart. Gabriel, for his part, also faced challenges in his rookie season, while Watson has been absent from NFL play since his Achilles injury in October 2024.
There’s still a lengthy offseason ahead, and it’s possible more candidates could emerge for the position. Monken aims to develop Cleveland’s young roster while searching for a franchise quarterback—whoever that may be. In contrast, former head coach Kevin Stefanski has signed a five-year contract to lead the Falcons.
