Todd Monken Explains Why Deshaun Watson Beat Out Shedeur Sanders for Browns QB1

The QB Battle That Wasn't Really a Battle

Shedeur Sanders spent his entire offseason trying to flip the script. After a rookie year where he got sacked more than anyone else in the Browns' QB room, he came back sharper — completing 70.5% of his throws in camp compared to Deshaun Watson's 60.3%. On paper, that's a serious statement. But Cleveland handed the QB1 job to Watson anyway, and head coach Todd Monken is now explaining why.

What Monken Actually Said

Monken didn't dodge the question. He told reporters that every quarterback develops on a different timeline, and some players just need more reps to get comfortable. He pointed to the start of the offseason as the moment Sanders started flashing traits he liked — enough to earn him more reps and turn the QB1 race into a real competition. That's notable framing: Monken isn't saying Sanders lost because he wasn't good enough. He's saying the growth is real, it's just not finished yet.

Why Watson Still Got the Nod

The stat line favors Sanders, but the Browns didn't build their depth chart on camp completion percentage alone. Watson is still owed the bulk of a $230 million contract signed back in 2022, and that kind of financial commitment doesn't get abandoned lightly — even after a season completely wiped out by injury. Monken's comments make it clear the front office is still banking on Watson's ceiling, while keeping Sanders' development on a parallel track.

The Long Game Monken's Talking About

Monken called Sanders "a sponge" who takes everything in, and said he's excited about "the long game" for the second-year passer. That's coach-speak for: this isn't over. Sanders still has things to clean up, but the belief internally seems to be that his moment is coming — just not Week 1.

What This Means Going Forward

For Browns fans, this is the classic bridge-quarterback scenario. Watson starts because of pedigree, contract, and the coaching staff wanting to see him healthy on the field again. Sanders sits, develops, and waits for either an injury, a slump, or simply enough reps to force the issue. Given how vocal Monken was about Sanders' offseason growth, this doesn't feel like a door that's closed — it feels like a timeline that hasn't hit its trigger point yet.

The Browns are clearly trying to manage two competing realities: a massive financial investment in Watson and a rookie who statistically outplayed him in camp. How long that tension holds before Cleveland makes a switch might be the most-watched storyline of their season.