Former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski waited until the preseason to name Joe Flacco his starting quarterback ahead of Shedeur Sanders. This year, first-year head coach Todd Monken would like to name his Week 1 starter much sooner than that.
On Friday, Monken argued why, in a perfect world, he will name the team’s starter behind center before July’s training camp.
“I would love to have that,” Monken said during a 92.3 The Fan appearance on naming a starter before July. “I’m not there yet, so I can’t say that. We’ve been on the field three practices … once we get back on the field for four weeks at the end of this spring, we’ll have a better idea then.
“But there’s only so many reps you get. You have to start to target who is gonna start opening day.”
Sanders is competing with Deshaun Watson for the starting quarterback role. Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot reported Wednesday that Watson had an early lead in the Browns quarterback competition.
The Browns will host their rookie minicamp on May 8 and 9. Watson and Sanders are set to resume their quarterback competition on the field when Cleveland’s offseason workouts resume on June 1.
Todd Monken Updates When Browns Will Name Starting QB
There’s probably good and bad with Monken’s ideal timeline to name a starting quarterback. The positive news about naming a starter early is that quarterback will get more practice opportunities.
That appeared to be Monken’s main reason for picking a starter before training camp begins. With an early-named starter, the Browns offense will also have a clear direction and leader.
The negative, though, comes if the team picks the wrong starter. Then the wrong quarterback is getting the majority of the repetitions. That’s why coaches hedge their bets sometimes with allowing training camp and preseason battles.
That’s the approach Stefanski took last year although Flacco appeared to be the front runner throughout the process.
This year, things are a little bit easier for Monken to navigate. The Browns do have four quarterbacks on their roster including new sixth-rounder Taylen Green. But Watson and Sanders are the signal-callers battling for the starting job.
Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson Competing for Cleveland QB Job
In the battle between Sanders and Watson, Cabot described Watson as having the “inside track” to being named the starter.
This offseason, Monken has previously suggested that could be the case as well. On Friday, though, the Browns first-year coach emphasized that it’s an open competition where either quarterback could still impact who starts.
“What we do on the field is what matters most,” Monken added in response to any early rumblings about the leader to start on 92.3 The Fan. You want to stop the narrative? Play well. Want to stop the narrative? Win.”
Whichever signal-caller doesn’t win the starting job will presumably be Cleveland’s backup when the 2026 season begins. In addition to Green, the Browns also have Dillon Gabriel on the offseason roster.
Sanders posted a 3-4 record as a starter with a 56.6% completion percentage, 1,400 passing yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions during his rookie 2025 campaign. He also averaged 6.6 yards per attempt and took 23 sacks in eight games.
Watson didn’t play at all in 2025. The Browns went 1-6 when he started during the 2024 campaign. Watson registered a 63.4% completion percentage with 1,148 passing yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions before suffering an Achilles injury.
Todd Monken Gives Updated Timeline on Browns’ Shedeur Sanders Decision