Browns star Denzel Ward opens up about future of Shedeur Sanders, hiring of HC Todd Monken

One big reason the Cleveland Browns reportedly hired former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken as their head coach last week was hope related to Monken possibly helping 2025 fifth-round draft pick Shedeur Sanders become a long-term starting quarterback for the franchise. 

During a Sunday appearance on ESPN, Cleveland star cornerback and 2025 Pro Bowl selection Denzel Ward spoke about what Sanders could be for the club under Monken.

Denzel Ward wants Shedeur Sanders to get more playing experience with Browns

"I think he has all the confidence in the world," Ward said about Sanders, per Chris Franklin of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. "He obviously was a rookie, a young quarterback who really needed to get that experience and just get time under task. He is making amazing throws, has great accuracy and he’s poised in there. I think it’s just getting multiple reps and continuing to develop him as a player."

Sanders began September buried on the Cleveland depth chart beneath 2025 Week 1 starter Joe Flacco and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel. In total, Cleveland went 3-4 in games that Sanders started before he was surprisingly named a Pro Bowl replacement. According to Pro Football Reference, Sanders finished his first NFL regular season ranked 40th in the league among qualified players with an 18.9 adjusted QBR, 41st with a 68.1 passer rating and last with a 56.6 percent completion percentage. 

Denzel Ward discusses Browns hiring Todd Monken over Jim Schwartz

The perception exists that Ward, pass-rusher Myles Garrett and other key members of the Cleveland defense would have preferred for the club to have hired Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz instead of Monken. On Sunday, Ward noted that Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry "had some of their best seasons under" Monken. 

Former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh brought Monken to Baltimore in 2023, and Jackson earned the second regular-season Most Valuable Player Award of his career in his first campaign with Monken as the club's OC.

"I’m just looking forward to us having an amazing offense," Ward continued, according to Heavy's J.R. DeGroote. "...We kinda struggled on that end of the field when we were out there during the season. But I’m just looking forward to playing better, and all of us playing better together — and looking forward to him being our new head coach."

It remains to be seen if Sanders, Gabriel, veteran Deshaun Watson or a player currently not on the Browns roster will be the starting quarterback when the club begins its 2026 regular season this coming September. If nothing else, it sounds like Monken is excited to begin working with Sanders.