BEREA — Todd Monken’s arrived as the Browns’ new head coach as the “Quarterback Whisper.” However, for as much say as Monken will have in the direction they go at that position, it won’t be a one-man evaluation committee.

“I think it’s going to be a collaboration of me in addition to our entire staff,” offensive coordinator Travis Switzer said during his introductory press conference March 4. “That’s just the way he’s always operated with everything. So yeah, I think that will apply there, too.”

There’s quite a lot for the Browns to evaluate at that position, and they’ve had to do it in an accelerated fashion since Monken was hired in late January. It’s not just the three quarterbacks currently on the roster — Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel — that are being examined, either.

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The start of the player movement period March 9 at 4 p.m. also has them involved, along with general manager Andrew Berry and the personnel staff, with examining those quarterbacks who could be available by trade or free-agent signing. That’s not just the obvious ones — Malik Willis, Anthony Richardson, Kyler Murray, Mac Jones — but more under-the-radar targets as well.

Of course, there’s a chance no one from the veteran market shakes loose and comes to Cleveland. That could mean selecting from a relatively tepid draft class, or just sticking with the ones currently on the roster.

“Yeah, I mean, certainly,” Switzer said. “I mean, those things, they tend to work themselves out as far as who that’s going to be. That’s why, like I said, we have a competition and the decision of when that’ll be, we don’t know. But those things, they have a way, players win spots and they have a way of kind of working themselves out. But yeah, we’re excited that that’s here in the building.”

Switzer, who played center at the University of Akron from 2011-14, had never been an offensive coordinator prior to Monken bringing him along with him from the Baltimore Ravens, where he had spent the first nine years of his coaching career. The last three years, all while Monken was the Ravens’ offensive coordinator, he served as the run game coordinator.

That’s allowed Switzer an insight into Monken’s mind that only a few on the Browns’ staff have truly gained. Whjich means he understands what it is that fundamental to the system they want to run.

Exactly what is that system? Well, that depends.

“That can be a very broad thing,” Switzer said. “I mean, there’s certain non-negotiables, if you will, which when you start to look at it, there’s not a ton of them. … And of course it’s going to be built around who you have. That’s where it starts. And that’s where I think Coach Monk has succeeded in multiple spots that he’s had. I mean, there’s been people who said, ‘What system does he come from?’ And I think that’s why, because he’s able to mold to who he has.”

The adjustment for Monken, Switzer, pass game coordinator Danny Breyer — another Akron alum — and offensive line coach George Warhop, all who were in Baltimore the last three years, is a realization of who they don’t have. That would be arguably the best running quarterback in NFL history, Lamar Jackson.

The Ravens’ offense was prolific both in the run and the pass with Jackson under center and running back Derrick Henry carrying the ball. The Browns clearly don’t have a Lamar Jackson at quarterback, and while they like rookie running back Quinshon Judkins, he’s not close to Derrick Henry just yet.

“So I think that goes back to how your system is built from day one,” Switzer said. “It needs to be built in a way that is multiple enough that you can stress the defense in a variety of ways and also cater to your players and who you have. And I mentioned that earlier, I think that’s something that Monk has been elite at and we were able to do in Baltimore as well. So if the system’s built in the right way from the jump, you’re able to move down this avenue, move down this avenue and then expand on that.”

That circles back to the original question the Browns have to answer about their quarterback position. The open competition could quickly become a closed one if they were to sign Willis or Murray in free agency, but otherwise, it figures to remain uncertain well into the summer even if they were to trade for Richardson or take someone in the draft.

A few things have become cornerstones for what Monken wants in his quarterbacks, and one of the biggest is an ability to make plays outside of the pocket. However, there’s a fine line to strike between being trying to make a play and getting happy feet in the pocket and trying to do too much, something Sanders struggled at times with as a rookie.

FInding that balance is part of the evaluation that each quarterback will have to undergo as they try to win the starting job.

“I think that part starts with knowing the situation and when we can take a little more risks, when you can’t, but it’s hard, especially with guys who can run around,” Switzer said. “A lot of times they make it right. So I think you just have to continue to talk to them about, ‘Hey, when are we in Superman mode and when are we in let’s take the profit mode?’ You know what I mean? Because you don’t want to take that away from guys. We just talk about, “Hey, make sure you’re what you’re elite at.” That is a lot of those guys’ super power. It’s just how do we channel that, or harness it or harness it into something that is good for the team, for the offense.”

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns QB evaluation a ‘collaboration,’ according to OC Travis Switzer

Reporting by Chris Easterling, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal

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