Cleveland Browns coach Todd Monken is undecided on the starting quarterback for the 2026 season, with Deshaun Watson currently having an edge over Shedeur Sanders. Monken has not set a timetable for making a decision.
Key points
Cleveland Browns have a wide-open quarterback battle for 2026 season
Deshaun Watson has gained an early edge over Shedeur Sanders
Todd Monken is undecided on the starting quarterback
No timetable set for naming a starter before training camp
Mentioned in this story
Todd Monken
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are expected to, once again, have one of the NFL's most wide-open quarterback battles entering the 2026 season.
A recent report from Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot indicated that Deshaun Watson had gained an early edge over Shedeur Sanders in the quarterback battle. Nevertheless, first-year Browns coach Todd Monken isn't ready to determine a starter – or even establish a timetable for making a decision.
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Chicago Bears − S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
26 / 32
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Houston Texans (from Bills) − G Keylan Rutledge
27 / 32
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Dolphins (from 49ers) − CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State
28 / 32
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
New England Patriots (from Texans via Bills) − OT Caleb Lomu, Utah
29 / 32
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Chiefs (from Rams) − DT Peter Woods, Clemson
30 / 32
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Jets (from Denver Broncos via Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers) − WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
31 / 32
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Titans (from Patriots via Buffalo Bills) − DE Keldric Faulk, Auburn
32 / 32
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Seattle Seahawks − RB Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
Monken went on to explain that the Browns had only, thus far, had three on-field practices. He described the opportunity to get on the field with his players as "awesome" but also explained he would need more time to evaluate a roster with which he has little pre-existing familiarity.
"It's always changing based on what you see. I don't have a history with any of our players," Monken said. "I know where this is heading, but I don't have a history with any of our players. They're all external to me."
Monken noted the only exception to that rule is wide receiver Tylan Wallace, who overlapped with Monken across three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens before signing with the Browns during the offseason.
But aside from Wallace, Monken still has a lot to learn about the remaining players on his 90-man roster.
"The point is what I've seen after three days, OK, that gives us a little bit of a 40,000-foot view of where we're at," Monken said. "But that can change."
When does Monken expect he will have enough data to begin contemplating a decision?
"Once we get back on the field for four weeks at the end of this spring, we'll have a better idea then," Monken explained, referencing Cleveland's OTAs and mandatory minicamp, which will wrap on June 11. "But there's only so many reps you get. You've got to start to target towards who is gonna start opening day."
"Now, that can still change," Monken added. "That can change, even if someone's getting two-thirds of the reps or someone's getting a third of the reps because you're still gonna play preseason games, you're still gonna wanna see those guys at quarterback and see how they play."
With that in mind, it sounds like there's still plenty of time for Watson and Sanders – or maybe even Dillon Gabriel and rookie Taylen Green – to try to stake their respective claims to Cleveland's starting job.
