Todd Monken undecided between Sanders, Watson at QB: 'I'm not there yet'

The Cleveland Browns are expected to, once again, have one of the NFL’s most wide-open quarterback battles entering the 2026 season.

A recent report from Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot indicated that Deshaun Watson had gained an early edge over Shedeur Sanders in the quarterback battle. Nevertheless, first-year Browns coach Todd Monken isn’t ready to determine a starter – or even establish a timetable for making a decision.

More: Shilo Sanders tells Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot ‘go make a sandwich’

Monken was asked whether his goal was to name a starter before training camp begins during a May 1 appearance on “The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima.”

“I would love to have that. I’m not there yet,” Monken replied. “So, I can’t say that.”

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New York Jets – OLB/DE David Bailey, Texas Tech

Arizona Cardinals − RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

Tennessee Titans − WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State

New York Giants − LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State

Kansas City Chiefs (from Browns) − CB Mansoor Delane, LSU

Washington Commanders − LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State

New Orleans Saints − WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

Cleveland Browns (from Chiefs) − OL Spencer Fano, Utah

Giants (from Cincinnati Bengals) − OL Francis Mauigoa, Miami (Fla.)

Dallas Cowboys (from Dolphins) − S Caleb Downs, Ohio State

Miami Dolphins (from Cowboys) − OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama

Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) − QB Ty Simpson, Alabama

Baltimore Ravens − G Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State

Tampa Bay Buccaneers − DE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (Fla.)

Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) − TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

Detroit Lions − OT Blake Miller, Clemson

Minnesota Vikings − DL Caleb Banks, Florida

Carolina Panthers − OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia

Philadelphia Eagles (from Green Bay Packers via Cowboys) − WR Makai Lemon, USC

Pittsburgh Steelers − OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State

Los Angeles Chargers − DE/OLB Akheem Mesidor, Miami (Fla.)

Cowboys (from Eagles) − DE Malachi Lawrence, Central Florida

Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars) − WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M

Chicago Bears − S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon

Houston Texans (from Bills) − G Keylan Rutledge

Dolphins (from 49ers) − CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State

New England Patriots (from Texans via Bills) − OT Caleb Lomu, Utah

Chiefs (from Rams) − DT Peter Woods, Clemson

Jets (from Denver Broncos via Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers) − WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana

Titans (from Patriots via Buffalo Bills) − DE Keldric Faulk, Auburn

Seattle Seahawks − RB Jadarian Price, Notre Dame

Monken went on to explain that the Browns had only, thus far, had three on-field practices. He described the opportunity to get on the field with his players as “awesome” but also explained he would need more time to evaluate a roster with which he has little pre-existing familiarity.

“It’s always changing based on what you see. I don’t have a history with any of our players,” Monken said. “I know where this is heading, but I don’t have a history with any of our players. They’re all external to me.”

Monken noted the only exception to that rule is wide receiver Tylan Wallace, who overlapped with Monken across three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens before signing with the Browns during the offseason.

But aside from Wallace, Monken still has a lot to learn about the remaining players on his 90-man roster.

“The point is what I’ve seen after three days, OK, that gives us a little bit of a 40,000-foot view of where we’re at,” Monken said. “But that can change.”

When does Monken expect he will have enough data to begin contemplating a decision?

“Once we get back on the field for four weeks at the end of this spring, we’ll have a better idea then,” Monken explained, referencing Cleveland’s OTAs and mandatory minicamp, which will wrap on June 11. “But there’s only so many reps you get. You’ve got to start to target towards who is gonna start opening day.”

“Now, that can still change,” Monken added. “That can change, even if someone’s getting two-thirds of the reps or someone’s getting a third of the reps because you’re still gonna play preseason games, you’re still gonna wanna see those guys at quarterback and see how they play.”

With that in mind, it sounds like there’s still plenty of time for Watson and Sanders – or maybe even Dillon Gabriel and rookie Taylen Green – to try to stake their respective claims to Cleveland’s starting job.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Todd Monken provides updated timeline for decision on Browns QB battle

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