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One of Todd Monken’s top priorities as the new head coach of the Cleveland Browns is determining who his starting quarterback will be for Week 1.
Monken has three options to consider this season: Deshaun Watson, who was unavailable all of last season due to injury; Dillon Gabriel, the team’s 2025 third-round pick; and Shedeur Sanders, Browns starter at the end of last season.
Monken hopes one of these quarterbacks can stand out over time. But all eyes will be on Sanders, who started the final seven games of the 2025 season for the Browns, to become Monken’s starter.
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Todd Monken speaks with the media after being introduced as head coach of the Cleveland Browns during a press conference at the CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on February 3, 2026, in Berea, Ohio. (Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
At the NFL Scouting Combine this week, Monken was asked about his quarterbacks, specifically whether he considered Sanders to be the team’s starter.
“I think what you see is elite playmaking ability,” Monken said, according to the New York Post. “It’s in him. You saw it, we saw it. You saw it in college. You saw it on tape last year. Sure, there’s a ways to go, but what rookie doesn’t? What freshman doesn’t have a long way to go? I’m excited to start with him and all of our quarterbacks and all of our players.”
Sanders went 3-4 in those seven starts, while Gabriel was 1-5 after taking over for Joe Flacco, who was traded to the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals after an injury to starter Joe Burrow.
It should be noted that the Baltimore Ravens, with Monken as offensive coordinator under former head coach John Harbaugh, wanted to recruit Sanders to back up Lamar Jackson, the team’s two-time MVP quarterback. However, Sanders has made it known that he wants to go somewhere in the draft where he has a chance to be the team’s starter.
Todd Monken speaks to the media after being introduced as head coach of the Cleveland Browns during a press conference at the CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on February 3, 2026, in Berea, Ohio. (Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
Sanders was never going to surpass Jackson on the depth chart in 2025 and beyond, so the Browns ultimately took him in the fifth round after a shocking fall in the draft last April.
Watson is in the final year of what was a disastrous $250 million, fully guaranteed contract for the former Houston Texans signal ace. While he made three Pro Bowls during his time in Houston, Watson only played in 17 games during his time in Cleveland, which included suspensions in addition to his injuries.
Still, Monken believes a player who has displayed elite talent on the field, no matter the moment, deserves a chance.
“I think you’ll still give them the benefit of the doubt so we can bring it up to them again,” Monken explained. “I think that’s how you should look at every player. I’ll let it play out.”
Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns stands for the national anthem before a preseason game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on August 8, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Logan Bowles/Getty Images)
In his 17 games with the Browns, Watson is 9-10, including a 1-6 mark in 2024 before an Achilles injury ended his season.
Sanders threw for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions in his seven starts for Cleveland last season. He was eventually named a Pro Bowl alternate.
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