Todd Monken says Shedeur Sanders has 'come miles' as Browns quarterback competition heats up

Shedeur Sanders’ caller caput manager likes what he’s seen from the backmost heading into his 2nd NFL play with the Cleveland Browns.

Todd Monken has been peppered with questions astir his quarterbacks extent illustration since taking the Browns’ caput coaching job, which Kevin Stefanski utilized to person with the franchise.

Sanders, whom the Browns took successful the 5th circular of past year’s NFL Draft, is usually successful those questions, arsenic media and fans alike are funny what’s successful store for him aft closing retired the 2025 run arsenic the team’s starting quarterback. However, a caller manager means caller reasoning astir each position.

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Cleveland Browns backmost Shedeur Sanders reacts connected the sideline during the archetypal fractional of an NFL crippled against the San Francisco 49ers successful Cleveland connected Nov. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Monken, though, spoke to Sanders’ improvement connected Wednesday, wherever helium said he’s seeing a subordinate who has already "come a agelong way."

"I deliberation Shedeur’s travel miles, successful presumption of his progressions, getting the shot out, his knowing of concepts. I deliberation he’s really, truly travel a agelong way," Monken told reporters, via ESPN.

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After the Browns went with Joe Flacco to commencement the season, past Dillon Gabriel erstwhile Flacco was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals, Sanders yet got a changeable against the Las Vegas Raiders. He won his first-ever commencement successful the NFL, and Stefanski named him starter the remainder of the season.

But Sanders and Deshaun Watson, who's backmost from wounded heading into 2026, person continued to instrumentality divided first-team reps during squad drills astatine the Browns’ 2nd OTA practice.

Head manager Todd Monken of the Cleveland Browns looks connected during a voluntary seasoned minicamp astatine CrossCountry Mortgage Campus successful Berea, Ohio, connected April 21, 2026. (Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

Watson, whose tenure successful Cleveland has been the nonstop other of what the squad had hoped for erstwhile they traded for and signed him to a monolithic declaration successful 2022. It was a afloat guaranteed $230 cardinal implicit 5 years, but helium tore his Achilles successful October 2024 and didn’t play astatine each successful 2025.

Still, backmost connected the gridiron, Monken said that "Deshaun’s athleticism shows up."

"Obviously he’s had that, but he’s had injuries that person acceptable him back. I wouldn’t accidental it’s a surprise, but it’s breathtaking to spot – it’s a limb for him. It’s 1 of his superpowers, his athleticism."

The Browns inactive person Gabriel, arsenic good arsenic rookie Taylen Green, connected their extent illustration up of the season. But it’s wide the contention starts with Watson and Sanders with grooming campy acceptable for July.

Monken won’t beryllium rushing to immoderate decision astatine the position, but helium does privation to sanction a starter by the opening of grooming camp.

Quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson of the Cleveland Browns ticker from the sidelines during a crippled against the Cincinnati Bengals astatine Huntington Bank Field successful Cleveland, Ohio, connected Sept. 7, 2025. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)

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"You’d emotion to person it astatine each presumption astatine the extremity of spring, but you can’t warrant that," Monken said.

Until then, Sanders and the remainder of the Browns’ roster volition look to impressment their caller coach.  

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