It appears Shedeur Sanders will be in a quarterback competition for the Cleveland Browns to start the 2026 NFL season.
New head coach Todd Monken speaking at his press conference at the NFL Combine stated that all three quarterbacks – Dillon Gabriel, Deshaun Watson, and Shedeur Sanders – would have a fair shot at earning the starting role.
“Sure, I think it’s an open competition. I don’t know why it wouldn’t be an open competition. I don’t mean to say that harshly, but I don’t think there’s enough on film over the last couple of years one way or the other to say whether we have a starting quarterback yet.”
The non-committal remarks toward Shedeur are bound to get plenty of run on the Cleveland airwaves, but realistically, Todd Monken is simply stating the obvious.
The Browns new coaching staff will do its due diligence when deciding which arm will be slinging it on opening day, and this is simply the best course of action a new coaching staff can take. In order to work towards a solid foundation on offense, having the player that performs best at the most important position on the field is just common sense.
Competition
Shedeur entered the NFL draft, according to many pundits, with the potential to go in the latter part of the first round. As the offseason process progressed, Shedeur watched his draft stock slide out of the first and continue to tumble all the way through draft weekend. Ultimately, he was taken by the Browns in the fifth round with 144th pick.
Sanders played well at quarterback in Colorado where he threw for over 3,200 yards with 27 touchdowns and just six interceptions in his final season. His obvious accuracy in college has transferred relatively well as a pro, but questions remain on his pocket presence and processing speed.
Shedeur Sanders primary competition will be Deshaun Watson. After only appearing in 19 games over the last 5 seasons with a long injury history, Watson should not be considered the favorite to start the year.
Dillon Gabriel had the opportunity to seize the job last season, but he never looked comfortable under center while constantly facing pressure.
The Browns finished 8-9 in 2025, missing the playoffs and ranking 22nd in passing yards per game. A large part of that was inconsistency from the most important positions on the field. Monken’s offense runs through play-action and taking shots to lift the defense, which may fit Sanders’ playing style to a degree. However, getting a lot of underneath and layered window targets is likely a key to Shedeur finding extended success as a professional quarterback.
Reaction
For sure, the Sanders backers will be in a bit of an uproar. Many believed he should have been pushed towards a starting role in week one as a rookie. As it stands, Shedeur only needs to get past a player he outperformed last season and a guy that many in the city would prefer to be on the first flight out.
That’s not that tall of an order if he is going to be considered a good enough professional to keep the Browns from the consideration of selecting a quarterback in 2027. When asked about Shedeur Sanders specifically, Monken was quoted as saying, “I think what you see is elite play-making ability,” highlighting how Sanders played well with off-script throws in college, showed leadership in big games, and can potentially add another dimension with his sneaky mobility.
Sanders’ fate in this competition will ultimately be in his own hands, which is more than some would say he had when he entered the league. Performance matters most, and he will have his shot to move the Browns offense forward in year two.
It should be a compelling storyline to follow this offseason.
Main Image: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images