Browns' Todd Monken shares final Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson verdicts before training camp

As he hinted would be the case earlier in the week, first-year Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken confirmed on Thursday that he will not be naming either veteran Deshaun Watson or 2025 rookie Shedeur Sanders the team's starting quarterback before the NFL's summer break gets underway. 

After the Browns wrapped up their final mandatory minicamp session on Thursday, Monken touched upon how Sanders has improved since it was first said in late April that Watson had "the inside track" to win the competition for the starting job. 

Shedeur Sanders is "doing a better job" at this aspect of playing quarterback

"I just think he’s doing a better job — I think he’s being more decisive," Monken said about Sanders, per Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. "Now, it’s easy to say [right now], we’re not in pads. It just feels like he’s making quicker decisions. The ball’s coming out of his hands, which he’s going to have to do. Not that he doesn’t have playmaking ability, because he does. But his ability to process quicker and get the ball out of his hands and eliminate lost yards, plays is going to be huge. He has to be able to stack plays and score, which is ultimately the No. 1 thing to do." 

A Wednesday report indicated that neither Sanders nor Watson covered himself in glory with his on-the-field performances throughout springtime workouts open to media members. That said, Sanders seemingly was the better of the two signal-callers throughout at least portions of this week's mandatory minicamp. 

"I don’t see it that way," Monken said when asked if it's concerning that he can't yet name a QB1, as shared by J.R. DeGroote of Heavy. "It would be if I didn’t think either one of them were capable of starting. I think they both can start and play winning football. I’m convinced of it. I can’t decide now because both have earned the opportunity to compete once we put the pads on."

Todd Monken also liked what he saw from Deshaun Watson

An 11-game suspension and multiple injury setbacks, including the torn Achilles tendon he suffered in October 2024, have limited Watson to just 19 regular-season starts since he joined the Browns in March 2022. His last meaningful in-game snap happened on the same day he suffered the initial tear of his Achilles (he later reinjured the Achilles during his recovery). 

"I think he’s excited to play again and to play at a high level," Monken said about Watson on Thursday. "He puts a lot of pressure on himself, so when he’s not right, or he makes a mistake, he’s great at owning it. ...He plays with his feet. That’s going to be a huge weapon for him."

Both Watson and Sanders are expected to complete some workouts with teammates before training-camp sessions get underway in late July.