Monken emphasized that the decision will come from the players and the competition, not from him. He noted that past performance may influence perceptions, but his role is to oversee the process and let it play out. Watson, a three-time Pro Bowler prior to joining Cleveland, is in the fifth year of a $230 million contract and has started 19 Browns games due to injury and suspension, totaling 3,365 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
Cleveland’s broader financial considerations include the significant cap hit Watson carries, which could drive a restructuring discussion to enable the club to pursue other quarterback options. The Browns’ plan appears to hinge on a transparent, merit-based competition during the preseason rather than prematurely committing to a single quarterback.
Beyond Watson, scrutiny has turned to potential moves that could influence Week 1 plans, including the possibility of acquiring a quarterback such as Kyler Murray or Malik Willis. Some analysts advocate pursuing alternative options while evaluating Sanders, who was a fifth-round pick, as part of the larger QB landscape in Cleveland.
Overall, Monken’s approach frames the Browns’ quarterback competition as an open-ended process with no guaranteed starting role, a stance that intends to maximize competition and accountability as Cleveland reconfigures its offense for 2026.
