Watson arrived in Cleveland in 2022 via a blockbuster trade, but his Browns tenure has been hampered by injuries and a lengthy suspension. He has appeared in 19 games, posting a 9-10 record with 3,365 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, and he missed all of last season while recovering from two Achilles surgeries.
Monken indicated he would love to tap back into Watson’s elite playmaking ability, even as he works with two young quarterbacks, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, who are still early in their development. “We would love to tap back into that,” Monken said, describing Watson as a former Pro Bowler who is returning from injury.
During his introductory press conference, Monken did not commit to Sanders as the starter, stressing that the quarterback position remains up for grabs. “Am I excited about Shedeur? Am I excited about all the quarterbacks in the room? Am I excited to coach this football team? Absolutely,” he said, emphasizing the broader competition under his leadership.
Sanders, a fifth-round rookie who started seven games as a rookie, showed flashes but did not cement himself as Cleveland’s unquestioned long-term option. The Browns believe Monken’s offensive acumen can stabilize the position and help determine a viable path at quarterback.
Owner Jimmy Haslam and General Manager Andrew Berry offered cautious optimism about the Browns’ quarterback future. Haslam said he is “highly confident” Monken can identify Cleveland’s long-term answer, while Berry highlighted Watson’s rehab progress and the expectation that he will be with the team next season—though the organization still has work to do before finalizing plans for 2026, when Watson is in the final year of his fully guaranteed $230 million contract. The team has a delicate balance to strike between maximizing Watson’s window while continuing to develop Sanders and Gabriel.
