Todd Monken clarifies quarterback comparison between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders

In the United States, the Cleveland Browns are preparing for the NFL season with a quarterback competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders. Todd Monken, the new head coach, recently addressed a reporter's question about his previous comments regarding the two quarterbacks. Monken clarified that he did not state Watson was better than Sanders, but rather that both have improved. Sanders, who started seven games last season, is competing for the starting role against Watson, who has faced injuries. Monken plans to rotate both quarterbacks in preseason games to determine the starter.

Todd Monken clarifies quarterback comparison between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders
1 source 1 view
Published Aug 11, 2026

Topic overview

Briefly

  • Todd Monken is evaluating Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders for the starting quarterback position.
  • Monken clarified his previous comments about the quarterbacks during a media session.
  • The decision on the starting quarterback will be made after evaluating both players in preseason games.

What happened

In the United States, the Cleveland Browns are currently in the midst of a quarterback competition as they prepare for the upcoming NFL season. Todd Monken, the new head coach and former offensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens, is evaluating two quarterbacks: Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders. During a recent media session, Monken faced a question from a reporter regarding a previous comment he made about the two quarterbacks. The reporter asked for clarification on whether Monken stated that Watson was better than Sanders or if he meant that Watson had improved. Monken responded defensively, indicating that he did not claim Watson was better than Sanders and appreciated the reporter's attempt to trap him in a misleading question. He emphasized that both quarterbacks have shown improvement and that each has strengths in different areas. Monken's comments come as Sanders, a fifth-round pick from the previous draft, is competing for the starting position after having started seven games last season. Watson, on the other hand, has had a tumultuous career with the Browns, having missed significant time due to injury. Monken plans to rotate both quarterbacks in preseason games to better assess their capabilities before making a decision on the regular-season starter.

Comprehensive report

Full story,
in detail.

Trace the developments that led here, see how the story evolved, and understand the forces and wider context surrounding it.

Entities

How Mestios works We aggregate coverage, extract key information, and use AI to summarize and compare perspectives. Learn more

Updated Aug 11, 2026

AI-generated summary. Please verify important information from original sources.