Todd Monken laid it all on the line, choosing Deshaun Watson over Shedeur Sanders by chasing the highest possible ceiling, and six games into the 2026 season, that high-stakes wager is looking like a winner with the Browns sitting pretty at 4-2. Monken, speaking on Ryan Clark’s podcast “The Pivot,” explained his staff measured both quarterbacks by their peak snaps. While Sanders had his own highlight plays, Monken said they “just saw a little bit more from Deshaun at the top end.”
Monken’s ‘Ceiling’ Bet Is Hitting Hard
That “chase the ceiling” logic totally explains why Cleveland is 4-2 right now. Monken’s whole philosophy was to “look at what a player’s best is and then try to minimize the weaknesses,” and Watson has absolutely delivered on that “best” when it mattered most. We’re talking about four drives led by Watson that put the Browns ahead late in games already. That’s exactly the kind of peak performance Monken was buying! Remember Week 4 against Pittsburgh? The Browns won 27-24 after a scoring march in the final stretch flipped the lead. And against Baltimore, Watson hit Jerry Jeudy for 33 yards on a 10-play, 62-yard possession that wrapped up with Andre Szmyt’s game-winning field goal, snatching first place in the AFC North with a 13-10 victory. Monken settled on Watson way back on August 24, after weighing everything from offseason workouts to training camp and even exhibition games. The guy clearly saw something he liked.
Still Under Construction: The Floor and Sanders’ Next Move
Now, it hasn’t been all high-flying, ceiling-hitting plays. The other side of that logic surfaced against Baltimore too, where Cleveland only gained 46 net yards and punted on five straight possessions before halftime. Monken pinned those slow starts on himself and his offensive staff, but he’s still backing his quarterback’s instincts. “But he’s just got something in him, the ability to make a play when needed,” Monken said, acknowledging, “We’re always under construction.” That ceiling standard also frames what’s next for Shedeur Sanders. He finished last season as the starter, going 3-4 in seven games, but with Watson back from two Achilles surgeries and taking the helm, Sanders has been on the bench. He hired an agent earlier this month, a move most folks read as a step toward leaving, with the trade deadline less than three weeks out. The problem is, the same peak-play evaluation that kept him on the bench is what rival front offices would use, and Sanders hasn’t had a chance to show any progress he made in camp this season. Without much outside demand so far, a trade deal isn’t going to be easy.
Monken’s offense gets its next chance to keep building and, hopefully, raise that “floor” this Sunday. They’re heading to Tennessee, where the 1-5 Titans are waiting, so you know the Browns will be looking to keep their strong start rolling.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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