
Back in May, Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders revealed that he wanted to meet with Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken "as a coach, not the dad," as Shedeur Sanders continues to compete with veteran Deshaun Watson for Cleveland's starting quarterback job.
While speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Monken responded to Deion Sanders' comments.
"I can’t wait," Monken said about potentially meeting with Deion, per Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. "I’ve got a lot of respect for coach Sanders, obviously as a player but also what he’s done as a coach. He’s done a great job with Shedeur as a father. I’m open to any time he wants to meet. He said he was going to come, but he had a commercial. If he just tells me where the next commercial shoot is, I’ll be there. I really am looking forward to it. I’ve got a ton of respect for him, and I’ve got a ton of respect for Shedeur because all he’s done since I’ve been here is work."
Numerous reports shared since late April have indicated that Watson has held a significant lead in the quarterback competition, so much so that some have suggested he could be named the Browns' Week 1 starter shortly after Cleveland's mandatory minicamp wraps up on June 11. However, Shedeur Sanders seemingly impressed Monken and Co. during Wednesday's practice.
"I think both quarterbacks have played well enough ... every day, I kind of lean one way or the other," Monken said, according to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.
Unofficial stats posted by ESPN Cleveland would lead one to believe Shedeur Sanders had the better day of the club's top two signal-callers.
BROWNS OPEN OTAs no. 3 is a WRAP.
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) June 3, 2026
Here’s how each QB performed in team 11v11 and 7v7 drills.
Next up: mandatory minicamp next week. pic.twitter.com/RRCzz771uS
"Shedeur has really come on," Monken said after Wednesday's practice, per J.R. DeGroote of Heavy. "I thought he had a really good day today. I thought Deshaun had a good day today. Both of those guys continue to compete. And you saw today, we’ve been alternating both of those guys. You’re just not out here every day to see it. Shedeur got a lot of work with the 1s."
While plenty could change before the evening of June 11 arrives, it sounds like Shedeur Sanders could extend Cleveland's quarterback competition through at least the club's first preseason game in August.
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