The Cleveland Browns went through NFL free agency and have, so far, gone through the process of NFL draft preparation for late next month acting like a franchise that is very sure of itself when it comes to its collection of quarterbacks. Which might seem odd, given the fact that the team has arguably the worst quarterbacks in the NFL. Pro Football Focus rated 38 quarterbacks last season, and No. 37 was Dillon Gabriel, who started six games for the Browns. No. 38 was Shedeur Sanders, who started the final seven games.
But the Browns let what was a decidedly weak quarterback market this offseason pass them by without a move for the likes of Malik Willis, Kyler Murray or Tua Tagovailoa. And unless there is a surprise move for Ty Simpson of Alabama, it appears likely that the Browns will put off adding another quarterback to the room until late in the NFL draft, or even after the draft.
So the Browns appear ready to follow through with the plan to pit Sanders, who was 3-4 to close the year, in competition with former start Deshaun Watson as Watson comes off two Achilles tendon surgeries. It will be up to new coach Todd Monken to sort out whether there is a capable NFL starting quarterback between the two.
Browns’ Todd Monken Will Pick a QB1
On Tuesday, Monken met with the Browns media at the NFL owners meetings in Arizona and while it has been reported by NFL Media that Watson will go into the offseason competition with Sanders for the QB1 job in “pole position,” Monken laid out how he plans to approach their head-to-head battle, though and did not say whether Sanders or Watson would come in with the edge.
From ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi: “At the NFL’s league meetings, Browns HC Todd Monken said QB reps won’t be divided equally to begin offseason workouts. Who starts out getting the most reps will be decided on ‘what we’ve seen in the past and where year ended.’”
And from Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com: “#Browns coach Todd Monken said the QB reps won’t be divided evenly, even in the beginning. Someone will get the bulk. He said how things ended last year will be a factor. But he wasn’t ready to state that Shedeur Sanders will start out as QB1.”
Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson: Who’s Got the Edge?
Which way that means the Browns are leaning is mysterious, to say the least. If Monken is making the decision based on “what we’ve seen in the past,” that could lead to Watson being the front-runner, depending on how far back into the archives Monken wants to go. Watson has, after all, been a legitimate star in the NFL, with three straight Pro Bowl seasons.
That was six years, two Achilles tendon surgeries and another franchise ago, though. The Browns at times in the offseason seem to be trying to convince themselves that version of Watson is still on the roster, if he can just stay healthy and get good coaching. But Watson is 9-10 in parts of three years as the Browns starter, with a quarterback rating of just 80.7.
Sanders had his struggles last year, but he did seem to rally the Browns behind him in his time under center, going 3-4 and improving a bit as he gained experience. He has not proven much in the NFL, but there is some upside.
It’s not a great set of choices for Monken. But he’s likely to make his pick, soon.
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