CLEVELAND — The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine kicks off this week in Indianapolis, and the Cleveland Browns have a glaring spotlight on the 15 quarterbacks invited to the turf. Newly minted head coach Todd Monken, fresh off his arrival from Baltimore, inherits a depth chart featuring a recovering Deshaun Watson and a polarizing sophomore in Shedeur Sanders. While Cleveland holds the No. 6 overall pick, the front office appears ready to hunt for value in the middle rounds, a move that could ignite a powder keg among a weary fan base.
The Monken-Beck Connection: Smoke or Fire?
On Wednesday, the league confirmed 319 total prospects for the event. Among the 15 signal-callers, one name stands out as a potential “Monken Guy”: Miami’s Carson Beck. Before Beck led the Hurricanes, he spent three seasons under Monken’s tutelage at Georgia. While Beck’s college career hasn’t reached the “elite” stratosphere expected by scouts, his familiarity with Monken’s system makes him a logical, albeit controversial, target.
The Browns aren’t just looking at Beck. Scouting reports suggest the team is doing heavy homework on Ty Simpson, Garrett Nussmeier, and Drew Allar. With Sanders already proving he can “dominate” in flashes—evidenced by his 3-4 record as a starter and a surprise Pro Bowl replacement nod—adding another mid-round project feels like a gamble. General Manager Andrew Berry has 10 total picks to play with, but using one on a QB room that already feels crowded might be a tough sell at the municipal parking lot tailgates.
“Every year you have to adapt and evolve. We want to find the right person that embodies what we want, but also someone who understands how to put their own spin on this offense. It’s about developing the talent we have while keeping our options open.”
— Todd Monken, Browns Head Coach
Roster Stakes: What’s Next for Cleveland
The decision to scout mid-round QBs suggests the Browns aren’t fully sold on the long-term viability of the Watson-Sanders duo. Watson missed the entire 2025 campaign with an injury, and while insider reports claim he looked like the “most talented” player in limited practice, his $46 million cap hit remains a massive hurdle.
If the Browns pass on a blue-chip defender or tackle at No. 6 to focus on building roster depth, the pressure on the Combine performance of these mid-tier passers skyrockets. Expect the team to spend significant “informal” interview time with Beck and Simpson in Indy. If Monken leaves Lucas Oil Stadium enamored with a familiar face, the 2026 Draft might become the most divisive weekend in recent Cleveland history.
