Todd Monken Already Made Most Important Browns' Coaching Staff Hire

Some important decisions still await new Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken as he continues filling out his coaching staff, most notably at defensive coordinator now that Jim Schwartz is officially out of the picture.

One decision he already made, however, may be the most significant hire he makes overall. 

News came down over the weekend that Christian Jones had been named the Browns' wide receiver coach by Monken, after spending this past season as the team's tight end coach under former head man Kevin Stefanski. 

And while the move isn't a major jump up the coaching ladder for Jones, it's a pivotal shift that could end up shaping the direction of the franchise, and more specifically, the offense. 

Once Monken finalizes his coaching staff, his focus will quickly shift to building out the roster, and it's no secret that Cleveland's most pressing needs are on the offensive side of the football. Wide receiver is arguably chief among them.

With the Browns armed with 10 draft picks in 2026, there's a high likelihood they spend some draft capital to address their dire hole on the perimeter. Between the NFL Draft and free agency, it's safe to project that the team's wide receiver room as a whole will look a lot different next fall. 

That's why Jones' role as wide receivers coach will be so important. 

There were constant questions about the Browns' ability to develop wide receivers during Stefanski's six-year tenure with the franchise. Chad O'Shea was his wide receivers coach for the entirety of that span and left for the same role in Kansas City after Stefanski was fired earlier this offseason. 

Of course, coaching is only half the battle. It's also on Executive Vice President of Football Operations, Andrew Berry, to identify and select talented players. He's drafted six receivers in total during his six years managing the roster, and not a single one before the third round. 

The fact that he's opted not to use high-end picks on the position could certainly be a major reason why names like Anthony Schwartz, David Bell and Jamari Thrash, have never quite panned out into anything special. That very well may change this year, though, with Cleveland holding two first-rounders and a glaring need for pass catchers. 

So much of the Browns' future on offense hinges on the players added and developed at wide receiver from here on out. Berry's job, maybe most of all, but also Monken's, as he tries to – in his own words – build the offense "from the ground up." 

Jones has a chance to really stabilize the position and save jobs in the process. Given how well of a rookie season tight end Harold Fannin Jr. had on his watch in 2025, there's reason to believe he's the right man for the job. 

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