New Cleveland Browns coach Todd Monken just walked into the NFL head coaching world without a clear quarterback plan, something almost unheard of for a new guy taking over a team. Monken, in his first NFL head job after 37 years of coaching, found himself inheriting a volatile QB room, with veteran Deshaun Watson and second-year pro Shedeur Sanders both facing huge question marks heading into the new season. He didn’t have a choice when he was hired, and he wasn’t turning down his first NFL head coaching offer, but man, talk about a tough spot.
The QB Reality Check Is Rough
Let’s be real, the situation with these two quarterbacks is not looking good. Deshaun Watson, at 30 years old, hasn’t played a snap since 2024 and hasn’t really looked like his old Pro Bowl self since way back in 2020 with the Texans. He’s only played 19 games over the past five seasons, so it’s tough to imagine him just flipping a switch and becoming that guy again. Then there’s Shedeur Sanders. As a rookie, he got a ton of hype, but the actual performance? Not so much. He was generally inaccurate, completing only 56.6 percent of his passes, and threw more interceptions than touchdowns, a tough 10 to 7 ratio. The dude was just a rookie, sure, but he didn’t exactly scream “budding star” either. It’s truly possible neither of these guys is the long-term answer, or even the “now” answer for Cleveland.
Monken’s Wild Gamble to “Exhaust Every Opportunity”
Here’s the kicker: Monken and the Browns organization decided against diving into the draft or free agency this past spring to find a better answer at quarterback. Yeah, you read that right. Monken told reporters they made a decision to “build the roster” and “see where we’re at and then pivot then.” Basically, they’re going to “exhaust every opportunity to see what we have” with Watson and Sanders. Can you believe it? The coach even said it would be a “damn shame” if they didn’t, and someone went on to play really well elsewhere. It means they’re effectively punting on finding a new franchise signal-caller until the 2027 NFL Draft. That’s a huge gamble for a team trying to win now.
A Roster Too Good for This QB Mess
The real gut punch here is that the rest of this Browns roster has a ton of talent! On defense, they may have traded away Myles Garrett, a legit best defender in the NFL, but they replaced him with defensive end Jared Verse, who was the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2024. He’s got help, too, from linebacker Carson Schwesinger, last year’s Defensive Rookie of the Year, and Pro Bowl corner Denzel Ward. Offensively, they’ve got promising skill players like running back Quinshon Judkins, tight end Harold Fannin, and a pair of rookie receivers in K.C. Concepcion and Denzel Boston, who they snagged in the first two rounds. This team is built to win, but without a clear path at quarterback, it feels like they’re driving a Ferrari with a sputtering engine. All eyes will be on Watson and Sanders early this season to see if this wild plan can somehow pay off, or if it blows up in Monken’s face.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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