Monken Sees Potential in Sanders, but Who’s the Starter?

During a recent session at the NFL Scouting Combine, Todd Monken mentioned that the Browns are gearing up for an open quarterback competition featuring Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson, and Dillon Gabriel this spring. It’s an interesting dynamic, and it seems like Monken is ready for some spontaneity in the offseason. Ideally, he hopes that the competition will naturally reveal the starters before training camp starts, and the team can distribute practice reps based on those emerging roles.

Watson, let’s not forget, is dealing with the final year of a rather tumultuous five-year, $250 million contract—fully guaranteed, no less. He missed the entirety of last season due to injury, which complicates things further. On the other hand, Gabriel, a third-round pick in 2025, had a rough rookie year with a 1-5 record and stats showing seven touchdowns alongside two interceptions.

Then, there’s Sanders, a fifth-round pick from 2025, who ended his rookie campaign with a 3-4 record. Unfortunately, his stats weren’t glowing either, as he threw for seven touchdowns but also ten interceptions. Interestingly, the Ravens, with Monken as their offensive coordinator, had their eyes on drafting Sanders as a backup to Lamar Jackson. But of course, the Browns snagged him first. It seems Sanders has made it clear he wants the chance to be a starter—fair enough, right?

From Monken’s perspective, he’s optimistic about Sanders. “I think what you’re seeing is elite playmaking ability,” he remarked. “It’s there. You could see it in college, on tape last year—there’s a path. Of course, every rookie has a journey ahead of them. I’m excited to work with all of our quarterbacks and players.”

As for Watson, why should teams even consider him given his recent struggles? Since his last Pro Bowl appearance in 2020, he’s played in only 17 games due to a mix of injuries and suspensions. Monken believes that if a player showed elite skills before, it’s worth trying to help them rediscover that ability. “You have to give them the benefit of the doubt,” he stated, “That’s my approach.”

Then he made an analogy about grading students. You can’t just give a score based on past performances or appearances before they’ve had a chance to prove themselves, right? “The players essentially determine who plays,” he concluded, illustrating a fair point about opportunities and expectations in sports.