Daniel Oyefusi
Multiple Authors
BEREA, Ohio — After the primary follow of the Cleveland Browns‘ three-day voluntary veteran minicamp, quarterback Shedeur Sanders stated there’s a “new vibe” and “new energy” with first-year coach Todd Monken and his workers.
And maybe for good purpose. One yr after Sanders was fourth in line in Cleveland’s quarterback competitors beneath former head coach Kevin Stefanski, Sanders was again within the No. 2 jersey he has worn all through his soccer profession (after carrying No. 12 final season) and first up for staff drills Tuesday, splitting beginning reps with Deshaun Watson.
“Coach Monken’s great and all the other coaches on the staff are extremely great,” Sanders stated Tuesday. “They’re going to understand and embrace you just as a person, and then they push you each and every day in the meeting room, on the field, in the weight room. It’s a new vibe, a new energy.”
Sanders, the 144th general decide within the 2025 NFL draft, began the ultimate seven video games of the season for the Browns, who completed 5-12. Sanders was 3-4 as a starter and helped lead Cleveland to victories towards the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals within the ultimate two video games of the season. He now finds himself in a quarterback competitors with Watson, who didn’t play in 2025 as he rehabbed from his 2024 Achilles tear, and Dillon Gabriel, a 2025 third-round decide who began six video games as a rookie.
Monken stated the plan Tuesday was to get Sanders a lot of the follow reps within the staff drills however divvy up alternatives for all the staff’s quarterbacks. Monken reiterated that the quarterback reps can change from day to day.
“I thought they were in command. I never felt at one time like they were lost,” Monken stated.
Sanders spent a lot of the offseason understanding in Cleveland and met Monken, who was the Baltimore Ravens‘ offensive coordinator for the previous three seasons, within the Browns’ facility on his first day as head coach. Monken embraced the second-year quarterback with a hug and ribbed Sanders about making an attempt to draft him whereas in Baltimore.
The relationship has continued to burgeon, with Sanders just lately gifting Monken a horse head for his birthday.
“I think Coach just spoke life into me,” Sanders stated of Monken. “And then when you do that, you just get the best result for me, honestly.”
