New coach Todd Monken embraces looming open competition for Cleveland Browns QB role, but sees promise with current options.
Competition is the word of the week at the NFL Combine, at least as far as the Cleveland Browns are concerned.
One day after Executive Vice President of Football Operations Andrew Berry declared the Browns QB situation an "open competition" to determine the team's starter, new head coach Todd Monken shared a similar message at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis.
"I think it's an open competition," he asserted. "I mean, I don't why it wouldn't be an open competition. I don't mean that saying it harshly, but I don't think there's enough on film over the last couple years one way or the other to say, boy, we have our starter at quarterback yet. Whether internally or externally."
That's been the overarching theme of the offseason for Cleveland. Both Berry and Monken have been unwilling to commit to any of the team's current quarterbacks. Not Shedeur Sanders. Not Deshaun Watson. Not Dillon Gabriel.
It's heavily believed that the Browns will invest some modicum of resources to adding to the room as well. The question is, how?
"I wouldn't say it's important to [add an external option]," Monken said. "But we're going to do our due diligence to make sure that our roster, that we put ourselves in the best position we can to score points, which starts with that position."
The open-ended remarks about the future of the position shouldn't be considered a dig at the current trio of QBs on the roster. Monken made it very clear on Wednesday, that he's excited to work with Sanders, Watson and Gabriel.
For Sanders' in particular, who started the final seven games for the Browns in 2025 with mixed results, Monken sees the foundation of something special.
"I think what you see is elite play-making ability," Monken said of Sanders. "That's in him. You've seen it. We've seen it. You saw it in college, you saw it on tape last year. Sure there's a way to go, but what rookie isn't. I mean what first year player doesn't have a long way to go. I'm excited to get started with him and all of our quarterbacks and all of our players."
Sanders did enough to leave everyone intrigued by wanting to see more. Development is key from here, which is part of Monken's job.
While Monken sees a bright future for Sanders, it's Watson's bright past that have him curious to find out whether or not he can win the starting job.
"I think anytime that you have a player that at one time has exhibited the skillset at an elite level, I think you're always going to give them the benefit of the doubt that somehow we might be able to get that out of him again," the Browns new head man said. "And I think that's how you should look at every player."
The problem for Watson, of course, is that the top five QB he once was has been nonexistent for over five years now. Between injuries and his well-documented off-the-field issues, there's simply no guarantee he'll ever be that guy again. Monken is giving him a shot to prove it, though.
"I’m going to let it play out," he added. "I think it'd be completely unfair just like it would be in any classroom setting, be it a history exam and all the students walk in and before they're actually given the exam, you give them a grade. Well, how would you give them a grade? ... Now you're going to have some preconceived notions, obviously, because we have prior evidence, but I don't decide who plays. The players decide who plays. I've never decided who plays."
A competition is coming. And unlike last year's strange four-way competition for the starting job, Monken's goal is to have his QB decision made before training camp opens in late July.
Monken isn't beholden to a timeline, though. Whoever ends up being part of the QB room in the coming months, he'll let it sort itself out on the field.
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