Todd Monken Clarifies Browns' Quarterback Plan After Day 1

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Apr 21, 2026 3:02 PM ET

Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken might have the most difficult job ahead of him this year if only for the fact that he has a QB controversy going on between two players that most teams wouldn't want to have, let alone start.

Shedeur Sanders is technically the incumbent, having finished last season as the starter, but had a very mixed rookie season. Deshaun Watson was once one of the top QBs in the NFL while he was with the Houston Texans, but in four years in Cleveland has started just 19 games.

But as spring team activities kick into high gear, Monken is going to give Sanders the slight edge. Per Yahoo's Jori Epstein, Monken announced today that Watson and Sanders will share QB1 reps in team drills, but will plan around giving more of those reps to Sanders.

"Todd Monken said Browns intentionally structured practice for both Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson to get QB1 reps in team drills, with plan for Shedeur to get more reps," Epstein wrote.

Todd Monken said Browns intentionally structured practice for both Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson to get QB1 reps in team drills, with plan for Shedeur to get more reps pic.twitter.com/rJGwUPnw7Z
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) April 21, 2026

Sanders vs. Watson

As much as NFL fans like to express their distaste for Sanders, it's a lot easier to make an argument for his future than Watson's.

Sanders showed room for growth as a rookie last year and is only 24 years old. For a team that had very little in the way of talent or support for any QB, let alone a rookie, an argument can be made that he exceeded expectations.

Nov 16, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) throws downfield during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images© Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

On the other hand, Watson will be turning 31 this September and played just 19 games in the last five seasons. His last truly good season was all the way back in 2020.

That said, Watson is pretty much impossible to trade so the Browns are bound to want some kind of return on that massive investment they made into him several years ago.

Who do you expect will emerge as the Browns' starter in 2026?

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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