The Cleveland Browns have had quite a hectic week, to say the least. After conducting a lengthy head coach search, the Browns finally landed on former Baltimore Ravens‘ offensive coordinator Todd Monken to come in and be their new leader. That decision has had quite a few repercussions within the building, particularly when they pertain to defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, but the team is moving forward with Monken.
Now that he’s officially with Cleveland, Monken is going to have his work cut out for him, as he’s going to have to hire new offensive, defensive, and special teams coordinators. Monken also has to begin working on assessing his roster, with perhaps the most important player at his disposal being quarterback Shedeur Sanders. When the two guys met for the first time, Monken issued a surprising revelation to his new starting quarterback.
Todd Monken Wanted Ravens to Select Shedeur Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft
The 2025 campaign was a mess once again for the Browns, as they cycled through three different quarterbacks throughout the year. After starting with the veteran Joe Flacco, Cleveland turned things over to third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel. When Gabriel went down with a concussion in Week 11, the Browns were forced to throw Sanders into the action, but after he showed his promise, he was made the starter for the remainder of the year.
Sanders’ rookie campaign was perhaps one of the most confusing in recent memory. Initially billed as a first-round pick, Sanders slid all the way to the fifth round, where Cleveland finally decided to select him. Even when he was in town, though, Sanders remained overlooked, as the Browns turned to Gabriel before him, and if it wasn’t for his injury, it’s fair to wonder if he would have played at all in 2025.
Now, though, Sanders is the best option Cleveland has at the quarterback position entering the offseason. While that could change, it doesn’t seem like something that Monken is particularly worried about. In fact, in his first interaction with Sanders since taking over as the Browns’ head coach, Monken revealed that he actually wanted to take the former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback in the 2025 draft while he was still with the Ravens.
“We tried to draft your a** last year for God’s sake,” Monken said in a clip posted on the Browns’ Instagram account. “It’s all worked out. You remember that, right? Someday we’ll get a chance to talk about that.”
What Does the Future Hold for Shedeur Sanders with the Browns?
GettyCleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
Right now, it seems like Sanders is going to get the first crack as the Browns’ starting quarterback in 2026. Of course, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise to see the front office bring in at least one new passer over the offseason to add some competition at the position. Sanders looked significantly better under center than his fellow rookie, Gabriel, though, and it seems like Monken is fond of him, which is a good sign.
While Sanders somehow got selected to the Pro Bowl as a rookie, it’s clear he has some things to improve upon moving forward. Of course, it would help if he had a better supporting cast around him on offense, and once Monken builds out his coaching staff, that will be the front office’s primary goal for the offseason. Sanders may not end up being the Browns’ quarterback of the future, but it appears he will have a shot to prove that he is early in the 2026 campaign.
New Browns HC Todd Monken Sends Strong Message to Shedeur Sanders at First Meeting