BEREA, Ohio — No quarterback has the job locked down. Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken made that crystal clear Monday when he refused to anoint a starter among Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel.
Monken Refuses to Name a QB1 as Three-Way Battle Looms
The Browns’ quarterback room remains a true dogfight heading into training camp. Monken faced the inevitable question about naming a Week 1 starter and shot it down flat. He pointed to flashes from each guy and said the competition will play out on the field, not in the press room.
Watson brings the veteran poise and the proven deep-ball arm. Sanders showed real promise in the back half of last season when the offense finally clicked. Gabriel lit it up early in the year with sharp decisions and quick releases. Monken sees merit in every one of them.
“No, not really, because there’s enough there of all three,” Monken said. “I mean, I think we’d all be able to say that. There’s enough there to really like Deshaun and the way he plays. There’s enough there to really like the way Shedeur played at the back end of the year. And there’s enough early in the year from Dillon that is playing the position at a very high level.”
You could feel the weight of those words settle over the room. The Browns have chased stability at the position for years. This time they’re letting the tape decide instead of forcing a name. The voluntary offseason program is already humming in Berea, and the tension in the quarterbacks’ meetings is real. One bad throw in a seven-on-seven drill, one missed read in team periods, and the pecking order can shift overnight.
What the Open Battle Means for 2026 and Beyond
This isn’t window dressing. Monken wants every rep to matter. He knows Watson is healthy again after last year’s injury setbacks and still throws with elite velocity. Sanders brings the pedigree and the late-season poise that turned heads. Gabriel showed he can slice through defenses with anticipation that belies his youth. Giving one guy the keys prematurely would kill the edge they all bring right now.
The stakes sit high in the AFC North. Pittsburgh and Baltimore reload every year. Cincinnati keeps adding weapons. Cleveland sits at a crossroads. A decisive starter by Week 1 could spark a playoff push. A prolonged carousel risks another lost season. Monken’s patient approach buys time, but the clock on this competition runs out once pads come on in July.
Fans in the Dawg Pound have watched this movie before. This summer feels different, though. Three legitimate options. One open door. And a head coach who refuses to close it until the best man forces his hand.
