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Sanders touts 'new vibe' under Browns' Monken
TL;DR
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders reports a 'new vibe' under first-year coach Todd Monken during minicamp. Sanders is competing for the starting position alongside Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel.
Key points
- Shedeur Sanders reports a 'new vibe' under Todd Monken
- Sanders is competing for the starting QB position
- He started the last seven games of the previous season
- Sanders finished with a 3-4 record as a starter
- Browns' minicamp features a focus on quarterback competition
Mentioned in this story
Todd Monken
Cleveland BrownsShedeur SandersDeshaun WatsonDillon Gabriel
BEREA, Ohio -- After the first practice of the Cleveland Browns' three-day voluntary veteran minicamp, quarterback Shedeur Sanders said there is a "new vibe" and "new energy" with first-year coach Todd Monken and his staff.
And perhaps for good reason. One year after Sanders was fourth in line in Cleveland's quarterback competition under former head coach Kevin Stefanski, Sanders was back in the No. 2 jersey he's worn throughout his football career (after wearing No. 12 last season) and first up for team drills Tuesday, splitting starting reps with Deshaun Watson.
"Coach Monken's great and all the other coaches on the staff are extremely great," Sanders said Tuesday. "They're going to understand and embrace you just as a person, and then they push you each and every day in the meeting room, on the field, in the weight room. It's a new vibe, a new energy."
Sanders, the 144th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft, started the final seven games of the season for the Browns, who finished 5-12. Sanders was 3-4 as a starter and helped lead Cleveland to victories against the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals in the final two games of the season. He now finds himself in a quarterback competition with Watson, who did not play in 2025 as he rehabbed from his 2024 Achilles tear, and Dillon Gabriel, a 2025 third-round pick who started six games as a rookie.
Monken said the plan Tuesday was to get Sanders most of the practice reps in the team drills but divvy up opportunities for all of the team's quarterbacks. Monken reiterated that the quarterback reps can change from day to day.
"I thought they were in command. I never felt at one time like they were lost," Monken said.
Sanders spent much of the offseason working out in Cleveland and met Monken, who was the Baltimore Ravens' offensive coordinator for the past three seasons, in the Browns' facility on his first day as head coach. Monken embraced the second-year quarterback with a hug and ribbed Sanders about trying to draft him while in Baltimore.
The relationship has continued to burgeon, with Sanders recently gifting Monken a horse head for his birthday.
Q&A
What did Shedeur Sanders say about the new coaching staff?
Shedeur Sanders described a 'new vibe' and 'new energy' with coach Todd Monken and his staff, highlighting their supportive approach.
Who is competing with Shedeur Sanders for the starting quarterback position?
Shedeur Sanders is competing for the starting quarterback role with Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel during the Browns' minicamp.
What was Shedeur Sanders' performance last season with the Browns?
Last season, Shedeur Sanders started the final seven games for the Browns, finishing with a 3-4 record and leading the team to victories over the Steelers and Bengals.
