Daniel Oyefusi
Multiple Authors
BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns enter training camp with an all-too-familiar query hovering over the franchise.
What is Cleveland doing on the quarterback place?
For the second straight yr, the Browns will maintain an open competitors for QB1 throughout their camp. This season, first-year head coach Todd Monken will oversee the battle, which has centered round nine-year veteran Deshaun Watson and second-year participant Shedeur Sanders. The two passers cut up first-team reps all through the spring practices. They impressed Monken to the purpose he declared he had two starting-caliber quarterbacks, however the ex-Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator held off on naming his QB1 earlier than seeing each gamers in padded practices and probably even preseason video games this summer season.
Cleveland’s quarterback questions do not finish at who will begin, although. The crowded room additionally contains Dillon Gabriel, a 2025 third-round choose who made six begins as a rookie, and Taylen Green, a sixth-round choose in April’s draft. Cleveland confronted the same conundrum final yr, coming into coaching camp with 4 wholesome passers till Kenny Pickett was traded ahead of the roster cutdown deadline.
Here is the place every quarterback stands as coaching camp opens Wednesday:
Deshaun Watson | Age: 30
Stat to know: Watson’s 33.1 Total QBR since he made his Cleveland debut would rank final amongst qualifying quarterbacks if he had sufficient begins to qualify.
Once one of many brightest stars within the league, Watson’s career is now at a sort of crossroads. Beset by suspension and accidents, he has performed in solely 19 video games for the reason that Browns acquired him for 3 first-round picks and gave him a totally assured five-year, $230 million contract in March 2022. His newest ailment — a torn Achilles tendon that required a pair of surgical procedures — sidelined him for the 2025 season. When he has been on the sphere in a Browns uniform, Watson hasn’t been in a position to recapture his former Pro Bowl type; in these 19 video games performed (9-10 report), Watson threw simply 19 touchdowns.
Watson is now wholesome and has expressed pleasure to be paired with an offensive-minded head coach who has had success with cellular quarterbacks. Browns coaches praised Watson’s form and physical abilities through the spring, however the subsequent take a look at will be carrying it over into video games, the place he has did not carry out with consistency lately.
“Deshaun’s athleticism shows up,” Monken mentioned in May. “Obviously he’s had that, but he’s had injuries that have set him back. I wouldn’t say it’s a surprise, but it’s exciting to see — it’s a weapon for him. It’s one of his superpowers, his athleticism.”
Shedeur Sanders | Age: 24
Stat to know: Sanders had a median time to throw of three.24 seconds, the longest of 38 quarterbacks who made at the least six begins in 2025.
Sanders joined Cleveland final season underneath a microscope that belied his fifth-round draft standing. His fall from a projected first-round choose to a Day 3 choice solely added to the outsized consideration and scrutiny. And it heightened even additional as Sanders, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, took zero first-team reps in camp and opened the 2025 common season because the inactive, emergency quarterback on recreation days.
Sanders, although, labored his means up the depth chart and made his debut in Week 11, when he was thrust into motion within the second half towards the Ravens. Though his first style of NFL motion was a battle — 4-of-16 for 47 yards and one interception — Sanders bounced again the next week and received a win in his first begin towards the Las Vegas Raiders.
Sanders remained QB1 for the ultimate seven video games of the season, and his two-month run because the Browns’ starter was an up-and-down affair; he made massive performs together with his arm and legs but in addition dedicated rookie errors, specifically holding on to the ball too lengthy and turning it over. He completed with a 3-4 report, together with wins towards the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals within the remaining two video games.
Coaches lauded Sanders’ development through the offseason exercise program, notably his grasp of Monken’s offense and talent to get by his progressions extra shortly. However, noncontact practices do not evaluate to stay go rushes that require snap selections. Sanders will should discover a steadiness between enjoying in construction and unlocking his playmaking expertise.
“I think he’s being more decisive,” Monken mentioned in June. “Now, it’s easy to say 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 yardage plays is going to be huge for us to be able to stack plays and score, which is ultimately the No. 1 thing here.”
Dillon Gabriel | Age: 25
Stat to know: Gabriel averaged 5.7 air yards per try final season, lowest amongst 38 quarterbacks who made at the least six begins.
The Browns chosen Gabriel on Day 2 of final yr’s draft, and the earlier teaching regime shortly ready him for a starting alternative, giving him first-team reps in coaching camp and making him the backup to then-Browns QB Joe Flacco through the common season.
Gabriel entered coaching camp final yr as a roster lock based mostly on his draft standing and the QB pecking order by the spring and summer season. The similar cannot be mentioned this yr based mostly on his positioning behind Sanders and Watson in addition to the presence of Green. As a standout at UCF, Oklahoma and Oregon, Gabriel was a pinpoint passer however performed a risk-averse model of soccer throughout his six begins as a rookie. His accuracy and decision-making will should be his calling card as a restricted athlete.
“He may be forgotten externally, but he’s not forgotten to us,” Browns common supervisor Andrew Berry mentioned in February. “[He’s] going to handle everything within his control … Dillon’s a guy that has a bright future in this league.”
Taylen Green | Age: 23
Stat to know: Green accounted for 7,247 complete yards in two seasons at Arkansas, the second most within the SEC since 2024 and trailing solely former Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia.
The Browns made one quarterback addition this offseason after they chosen Green with their remaining choose of the 2026 draft. Berry mentioned the 6-foot-5, 227-pound Green, who ran the quickest 40-yard sprint time for a quarterback on the NFL mix (4.36 seconds), has “rare physical gifts” but in addition acknowledged “he’s going to need some polish with his game.”
Those feedback set Green up for what will seemingly quantity to a redshirt season as a rookie, creating behind the scenes if he makes the 53-man roster. Monken has already spoken of desirous to shorten Green’s elongated launch.
Monken and Berry are open to utilizing Green’s bodily attributes in specialised packages, however he’ll have to indicate sufficient progress as a passer this summer season to not solely make the roster but in addition be energetic on recreation days. With restricted apply reps accessible as Sanders and Watson compete to start out, the preseason video games will mark big alternatives for Green.
“I’ve been super impressed with his ability to really learn, process and take it to the field and then getting through his progressions, really impressive,” Monken mentioned in May.
