From a high-stakes quarterback battle to life after Myles Garrett, Todd Monken must navigate roster overhauls and skepticism to set the Cleveland Browns up for success in year one at the helm.
Todd Monken's first training camp with the Cleveland Browns has arrived and the stories are endless. From the highly anticipated QB competition to finalizing the starting lineups on both sides of the ball, there will be plenty to uncover in the coming weeks.
Here are the 10 burning questions the Browns must answer at camp.
1) Do they have a franchise QB?
It's the question every NFL franchise wants to answer, and one the Browns haven't been able to answer since they returned in 1999. Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders will duke it out for the starting job during camp, but that's only half the battle. By the end of the 2026 season, Cleveland has to know if they have a franchise QB, or if they'll be drafting one in 2027.
2) How big of a step back will the defense take?
It would be naive to think the defense won't take some step backwards after losing star pass rusher Myles Garrett and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. Mike Rutenberg is keeping things mostly status quo in terms of philosophy and scheme. That's good, but other players (most notably Jared Verse) will have to step up and share the burden of Garrett's absence. We'll find out if they're up to the task.
3) Can Jared Verse prove the Browns right?
General manager Andrew Berry was adamant he would not have traded Garrett if Verse wasn't part of the deal. It would be unfair to expect Verse to fill Garrett's shoes, even he gave credence to that. But, he's going to have to put together his best season yet and continue his trajectory to stardom to prove the Browns right for demanding him.
4) Who will be the fifth starter on the offensive line, and can they gel?
One of the biggest roster questions Monken will have to answer over the next four weeks is who will be the fifth starter on offense? Once he figures that out, the group then has to get in sync and be a strength for Cleveland. Berry put a lot of resources into addressing the o-line, but whether or not he truly fixed it is to be determined.
5) Can this year's rookie class be as impactful as last year's?
The Browns leaned into their youth for a second consecutive offseason, headlined by another highly touted rookie class. Four players from last year's class are expected to be core members of the team for years to come. Perhaps Sanders becomes a fifth. Anyway, the 2026 class has four players who are expected to make an immediate impact as well in KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston, Spencer Fano and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, but they'll have to prove it. That starts at camp.
6) Will Todd Monken be one-and-done?
When the dust settled on this year's coaching carousel, Monken was the consensus "worst hire" of 10 in a lot of pundits' eyes. Some of that may have to do with his age. Some of it may have to do with people not trusting the Browns. Monken is taking over a young team and should be given time to build a culture. Results matter, though.
7) Is Spencer Fano a franchise left tackle?
One of the aforementioned draft picks is expected to make an immediate impact. Fano is Berry's second attempt at filling the left tackle void left when Hall of Famer Joe Thomas retired in 2017. There's likely to be some growing pains, but steady progress throughout the season will be key.
8) What's the ceiling for the offense?
On paper, Berry raised the floor of this offense between the o-line overhaul and the injection of young skill players on that side of the ball. What remains unclear is what the ceiling is for the unit? The answer likely hinges on quarterback play, but Monken's offensive prowess should help matters as well.
9) Who will occupy the nickel defensive back spot?
Another key roster spot Monken and company must find an answer to. Myles Harden is probably first up from the cornerback room to play in the slot, but with McNeil-Warren joining the fold, Rutenberg could opt for more three safety looks.
10) Will Grant Delpit get an extension?
Speaking of the safeties, Delpit's future remains in question as he enters the final year of his deal with no more guaranteed money on his current deal. Denzel Ward just got a major extension on Tuesday to stay with the franchise for the foreseeable future. Could Delpit be next?
