Todd Monken took over for Kevin Stefanski as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns this offseason. The first-time head coach will have his work cut out for him in 2026 as he decides on a starting quarterback.
Todd Monken to Evaluate All Cleveland Browns Quarterbacks
Shedeur Sanders ended 2025 as the starter, but the results were mixed. Now, Monken is hesitant to give the second-year passer the QB1 title, instead opting for a different strategy. Currently, the Browns have Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, and Deshaun Watson at quarterback. The draft is still to come, so even more competition could be added to the room.
#Browns coach Todd Monken said the QB reps won’t be divided evenly, even in the beginning. Someone will get the bulk on any given day but it can change. He said how things ended last year will be a factor. But he wasn’t ready to state that Shedeur Sanders will start out as QB1.
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) March 31, 2026
One would think Sanders would be the favorite or begin the offseason as QB1, but that is not necessarily the case. At the league meetings, Monken explained that quarterback reps won’t be divided evenly, even at the beginning of practices.
It is interesting that Monken mentioned past performance playing a large role in his decision, because Watson has clearly played the best of the three. However, Watson’s off-field and injury concerns have prevented him from playing a full season since 2020.
At the NFL’s league meetings, Browns HC Todd Monken said QB reps won’t be divided equally to begin offseason workouts.
Who starts out getting the most reps will be decided on “what we’ve seen in the past and where year ended.”
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) March 31, 2026
Sanders and Gabriel both showed flashes during their rookie campaigns in 2025, but neither did enough to earn the job. Sanders earned a 56.9 grade from PFSN’s QB Impact metric, while Gabriel earned a 51.0 mark.
Sanders ended up playing in eight games, while Gabriel played in 10. Sanders threw for 1,400 yards with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions, while Gabriel threw for 937 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions.
Watson, meanwhile, did not see any time in 2025. The quarterback last played in 2024, when he threw for 1,148 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions. However, Watson was once one of the best passers in the league.
BE AN NFL GM: PFSN’s Ultimate GM Simulator
The quarterback played for the Houston Texans from 2017 to 2020, earning three Pro Bowl selections and leading the league in passing yards in 2020. If Watson is healthy, it is totally possible that he could win the starting job outright.
It has been several seasons since Watson has looked like a star, though, and the injuries and drama seem to have made him a different player.
No matter who the quarterback is, the team will need to upgrade its offensive supporting cast. PFSN’s Offense Impact metric gave the Cleveland Browns’ offense a league-worst 52.0 grade in 2025.
So far, the team has rebuilt the offensive line with additions such as Elgton Jenkins, Tytus Howard, and Zion Johnson. Look for the team to add more offensive playmakers in the 2026 NFL Draft.
