Both coach Todd Monken and general manager Andrew Berry gave away their feelings about the Browns’ quarterback room during their separate conversations while at the NFL combine in Indianapolis last week.
Monken talked about it being an “open competition” for the starting job. Then, when asked about the quarterback position and if there needed to be addition made, he made this comment.
“I think that’s a little bit of a baited question on that one, but I will say that we’re always trying to upgrade every position,” Monken said Feb. 25. “That’s not the only position. I know it’s the position everybody wants to talk about and I get it. I get it. I’m excited about Shedeur (Sanders), excited about Deshaun (Watson) and Dillon (Gabriel). I’m excited about the prospects, not only in free agency but also in the draft and we’ll see where it all falls. Ultimately you’ve got to do whatever you need to do, especially at that position to put yourself in position to score points.”
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That’s not necessarily a ringing endorsement for anyone in the room. Before there’s pushback on that, ask yourself if you’ve heard similar things from New York Giants coach John Harbaugh about Jaxson Dart or from New Orleans Saints coach Kellen Moore about Tyler Shough this offseason?
The answer is no, because they believe they have their starter. You don’t talk about open competitions or, as Berry did, side-step a question about adding a veteran from outside if you’re satisfied with the top of the depth chart at that specific position.
A case for or against Shedeur Sanders at quarterback
Does that mean the Browns won’t start Sanders on opening day? Of course not.
After all, Sanders did start the final seven games of last season, at which time there were certainly things he did that gave reason for optimism for the future. However, the stats were the stats — 56.6% completion percentage, seven touchdowns, 10 interceptions, a 68.1 passer rating and 23 sacks — and they certainly weren’t good enough if there isn’t substantial improvement.
If that improvement does happen, then the Browns absolutely should stick with Sanders. If it’s more of the same, while assuming there’s upgrades around him as well, that’s when another option has to be considered.
A case for or against Deshaun Watson at QB1
Does that mean it’s Watson, assuming he makes a somewhat unprecedented turnaround after a year-and-a-half off because of his Achilles tear and be productive? Sure, why not.
Watson’s in the final year of the disastrous fully-guaranteed contract the Browns gave him after the equally-crippling trade they made in 2022. They’ve gotten 19 games out of him over the first four years, none since Week 7 of the 2024 season.
There’s been multiple reclamation projects at quarterback over the last several years, the most recent of those was holding the Vince Lombardi Trophy last month for the Seattle Seahawks. An injury-plagued quarterback who hasn’t started a full season since 2020 rediscovering his Pro Bowl form would be one of the greatest ever seen.
A case for or against Dillon Gabriel as QB1
Could Gabriel find new life in a new coach? Hey, anything’s possible.
Berry and Monken both insisted the 2025 third-round pick wasn’t just a third wheel in the quarterback room. Berry even said Gabriel “may be forgotten externally, but he’s not forgotten to us.”
Gabriel had a mostly-forgettable six-game stretch as the starter last year that ended with a Week 11 concussion, although it might have been nearing its end anyway. His stats were, in fairness, mostly better than Sanders’ — 59/5%, 7 touchdowns, two interceptions, 80.8 passer rating, 19 sacks — although he also never provided the kind of down-field passing game that his replacement did.
So what about potential external QB options?
Which all leads to the most obvious question: Is the opening-day starter not on the roster? It might not be, especially if you listen to Monken and Berry.
There’s a lot of options out there. That includes a trade for an Anthony Richardson, signing a Malik Willis or drafting a Ty Simpson, Garrett Nussmeier, Carson Beck or Drew Allar.
Each one has it’s own way to sell that it would work. Each one has its own way to say it wouldn’t solve the problem.
A case for or against Anthony Richardson
Of the trade options, more than a Mac Jones or even a Kyler Murray, Richardson makes the most sense one big reason. Monken was hired for his work with quarterbacks, specifically what he did in Baltimore with Ravens star Lamar Jackson.
Richardson’s first three seasons in the league with the Indianapolis Colts have been plagued by both injuries and massive inconsistencies. However, if Monken could work his magic here, the potential answer the 6-foot-4, 244-pound Richardson would be for a franchise that hasn’t had That Guy at That Position in decades.
A case for or against Malik Willis
Willis, too, makes sense for this situation. The price, however, has to be right, something that won’t be known until it gets going March 9.
The pushback to Willis would be the lack of actual games started, with one few career starts since 2022 than Sanders had down the stretch in 2025 alone. The counterpoint to that is the numbers he put up in the last two seasons with the Green Bay Packers, including a 78.7% completion percentage and a 6-0 touchdown-to-interception ration.
A case for or against drafting a QB in 2026
Which leaves the 2026 draft class, and a hodge-podge of quarterbacks who have reasons for intrigue, but just as many reasons to stay away. Unless that quarterback is Fernando Mendoza, and he’ll be long gone by the time the Browns make their first pick.
Simpson? Not enough starts. Nussmeier? The core muscle injury that didn’t get correctly diagnosed until after the season. Beck? For every good throw, there’s seems to be a bad decision waiting right around the corner. Allar? See Penn State’s season prior to his ankle injury.
So where does that all leave the discussion? Allow Berry to have the final word, which was his answer to the question about finding a quarterback outside of the organization.
“I think there’s always the possibility but we have a long way to go before we get to that point,” Berry said at the combine Feb. 24. “We expect to have a competitive room and that’s important to us, but what that looks like, I can’t exactly define that as we sit here today.”
So, in other words, just wait and see when it comes to a QB.
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: Making a case for Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson, others as Browns QB
Reporting by Chris Easterling, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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