There is still much to be sorted out for the Cleveland Browns and head coach Todd Monken as the team’s quarterback room has managed to somehow go from the worst in the NFL to something even worse than that after a miserable 31-7 loss to the Bills at home in their second preseason game. Shedeur Sanders has not seized the job, Monken has never really given Dillon Gabriel QB1 consideration and, now, veteran Deshaun Watson has gone to war with Browns fans, leaving Monken without any reasonably good option for the league’s most important position. The only quarterback who is still unsullied is rookie Taylen Green.
Hmm … and how about Taylen Green? Indeed, the circus of Watson’s press conference after he was booed at home on Saturday night leaves open the notion that maybe the Browns should mail in this season and give Green a chance sooner rather than later, with a notion of adding a top pick in the 2027 draft.
If this is doomed to be a miserable 2026 season for Cleveland, wouldn’t it be more fun if it was miserable with an exciting talent like Green under center?
Browns Should ‘Scrap’ Taylen Green Plan
That was one suggestion from Browns reporter Tony Grossi, who came out of the disaster that was the second preseason game with a few observations.
As he wrote: “My takeaways on Browns 31-7 loss to Bills as Watson alienates booing fans:
— Welcome to the 100YearsWar, coach.
— Solid play by Sanders justifies QB1 nod.
— What they do with Watson now? Untradeable & uncuttable.
— Taylen Green redshirt plan should be scrapped.”
Todd Monken Has Professed ‘Love’ for Taylen Green
That last one should be of most interest to Browns fans. Green was a sixth-round pick in this year’s draft, largely seen as a project because of his long, slow release and susceptibility to interceptions. But he does have a strong arm and, at 6-foot-6, great size to go with 4.39 speed in the 40-yard dash.
Maybe he is more of a tuck-and-run quarterback with the occasional big-throw ability, but if Sanders gets the job and is not up to the task, maybe the bubble wrap comes off Green by midseason or so.
Remember, Monken said this week that he loves Green, even if he has not had the ability to give him many reps.
Said Monken about Taylen Green: “First of all, he’s so damn smart. That dude is smart as heck to go out there and function, we hardly give him any reps. I love that dude. It’s just hard. We have four guys, it’s hard to give them all reps. We got him on the perimeter one time, which is what you’ve got to do down there in the red zone, but all he does is work, always has a smile on his face. I’m happy we got him.”
Browns Predicted for QB Change
And already, it looks like ESPN’s Seth Walder was prescient earlier this month, when he logged the prediction that Green would start games by the end of the year. Sanders may get the job to start the season. But Green could well get the job by the end.
Walder called that well before Watson’s press conference on Saturday.
He predicted: “Cleveland’s 2027 quarterback competition will be between a first-round pick and … Taylen Green. This essentially is a bet that Green will be starting for the Browns by the end of 2026. ”
Browns QB Crisis Could Force Change to Taylen Green ‘Redshirt Plan’