Browns' Todd Monken Noncommittal on Quarterback Depth Chart

Cleveland's offensive coordinator says the QB competition is wide open between Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 6:23am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a fragmented, multi-perspective scene of a football quarterback competition, with sharp geometric shapes and planes representing the different players and their roles.A cubist interpretation of the Browns' quarterback battle, with the team's options fragmented into a dynamic visual representation.Cleveland Today

Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Todd Monken acknowledged that the team's quarterback competition is still wide open, with no clear favorite emerging between Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel. Monken said there is enough talent and potential in all three quarterbacks to make the decision a difficult one, and the coaching staff wants to let the competition play out fully during training camp before naming a starter.

Why it matters

The Browns have struggled with quarterback instability in recent years, and this latest open competition adds another layer of uncertainty as the team looks to build on a promising 2025 season. Resolving the QB1 question will be crucial for Cleveland's offensive success and playoff aspirations in 2026.

The details

Monken said the Browns' coaching staff is not ready to name a starting quarterback, as all three candidates - Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel - have shown enough promise to warrant further evaluation. The team wants to let the competition play out fully during training camp before making a decision on the Week 1 starter.

  • The Browns' quarterback competition will continue throughout the team's offseason program and training camp.

The players

Todd Monken

The offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns, responsible for overseeing the team's quarterback competition.

Deshaun Watson

The veteran quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, who is competing for the starting job.

Shedeur Sanders

The young quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, who is competing for the starting job.

Dillon Gabriel

The third quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, who is competing for the starting job.

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What they’re saying

“'No, not really, because there's enough there of all three. I mean, I think we'd all be able to say that. There's enough there to really like Deshaun [Watson] and the way he plays. There's enough there to really like the way Shedeur [Sanders] played at the back end of the year. And there's enough early in the year from Dillon [Gabriel] that is playing the position at a very high level.'”

— Todd Monken, Offensive Coordinator, Cleveland Browns

What’s next

The Browns will continue to evaluate their quarterback options throughout the offseason program and training camp, with the goal of naming a starter before the start of the 2026 NFL season.

The takeaway

The Browns' quarterback competition highlights the team's ongoing search for stability at the position, as they look to find the right combination of talent and leadership to lead their offense in 2026 and beyond.