Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken has yet to name a starting quarterback, leaving Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders to compete for the role during training camp.
The Quarterback Competition and Training Camp Stakes
The organization has avoided naming a starter, opting instead to extend the evaluation of Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders into the high-stakes environment of padded practices and preseason games.
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The competition carries significant weight for the franchise’s trajectory. Watson, who missed the 2025 season while recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, brings a clear edge in NFL experience.
Browns defensive end Jared Verse, who has observed both players throughout the offseason, expressed confidence in their capabilities.
“These are two great quarterbacks. I’m honestly excited to see how it goes further in the preseason, but so far I’ve just seen two elite quarterbacks battling it out.”
Jared Verse, Browns defensive end, via Bleacher Report
Offseason Workouts and Team Chemistry Concerns
A point of contention during the summer break has been the potential for fractured team dynamics if players are forced to choose between competing workout camps.
Shedeur Sanders has publicly dismissed the notion that the locker room is split, emphasizing that the quarterbacks remain in communication. If one of us chooses to do something, we’re all going to do it together as a team. It’s not no individual thing,
Sanders stated before the summer break.
Meanwhile, Watson has been active in organizing sessions with key offensive players. He recently shared footage of a workout featuring tight end Harold Fannin Jr. and wide receivers KC Concepcion and Luke Floriea.
“Keep stepping on everybody necks man. That’s the mentality we gotta have this year. You feel me. So we good. We’re in a good space. Work always come first. That’s mandatory.”
Deshaun Watson, Browns quarterback, via Yahoo
Monken’s Offensive Strategy and Roster Transitions
Beyond the quarterback room, Monken is tasked with implementing an offensive scheme that draws from his previous tenure as the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive coordinator. However, the exact look of the offense remains speculative. During spring practices, the team utilized a nearly even split of reps between Watson and Sanders, while key offensive contributors like tight end Harold Fannin Jr. and running back Quinshon Judkins were limited or sidelined due to recovery from injuries, The Athletic.
The team is also undergoing broader structural changes. The Browns traded away two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett in June, a move that signals a pivot toward a younger roster and a reset of salary-cap priorities. This transition has led to speculation regarding the future of other veteran players, including five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward, though no such move has been confirmed.
Performance Expectations for Shedeur Sanders
For Sanders, the path to the starting role involves more than just physical talent; it requires a commitment to the technical rigors of Monken’s system.
The challenge for Sanders in 2026 is to move beyond instinctive play and master the consistent execution required to lead a professional offense. If he successfully commits to this process, he may unseat Watson; however, the team’s history of revolving quarterbacks suggests the pressure to perform will be immediate and sustained for whoever wins the job.
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