Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) was the first QB up in both team and individual drills on Wednesday during the team's second OTA practice, according to Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Shedeur Sanders was second in individual drills, followed by Dillon Gabriel and rookie Taylen Green. In team drills, Gabriel was second behind Watson with the first-team offense, while Sanders mostly worked with the second team. The 30-year-old Watson looks to be fully recovered from a twice-torn Achilles tendon that kept him out for all of the 2025 campaign. He will be competing primarily with Sanders for the starting gig under center in 2026, although offseason reports have suggested that Watson is in the unofficial lead, primarily because he's made 72 starts in the NFL and is a three-time Pro Bowler. A report surfaced earlier this week that Watson and new head coach Todd Monken have hit it off, which insinuates that the Browns are leaning toward naming Watson as their starter eventually. Although Watson looked like a future star with the Houston Texans earlier in his career, he's been a massive bust in Cleveland and won't be much more than a low-end QB2 in superflex leagues if he wins the starting QB job over Sanders
The Cleveland Browns appeared to have finally turned the corner on quarterback Deshaun Watson in 2025. The veteran who cost the Browns three No. 1 draft picks, $230 million in guaranteed money, and untold fan goodwill, spent the majority of the season sidelined while recovering from a twice-torn Achilles tendon. Outside of a few practices in the final weeks of the season, it was out of sight, out of mind. Once the calendar turned to 2026, all the Browns had to do was finish out the final year of the contract on a player that owner Jimmy Haslam described as a “big swing-and-miss” by keeping Watson on the sidelines, and then everyone could part company. Only it is starting to seem like what was once unthinkable may become a reality as the Browns may find themselves in a position where Watson takes the field in Week 1 as the starting quarterback. That is due in part to new head coach Todd Monken, who is willing to try anything to jumpstart the quarterback position, and the lack of other viable options on the roster, as Daniel Oyefusi and Jeremy Fowler highlighted in an ESPN article : Dillon Gabriel , who helped the Browns to one win in six starts as a rookie, posted a QBR that would have ranked last in the league among qualified players. Shedeur Sanders , who helped the Browns to three wins – no one will ever forget the epic six-point offensive explosion in the season finale – and posted a QBR that would have ranked him last in the league among qualified players. Taylen Green , a rookie sixth-round selection, needs plenty of time to get up to speed. When you look at the options, it is understandable why Monken would prefer a 30-year-old quarterback who has suffered two major injuries and, in the 19 games he has actually played, posted a total QBR that would rank him last among qualified passers. The good news, if there is such a thing in this situation, is that Monken is keeping an open mind and has a track record of bringing out the best in a variety of quarterbacks, as Albert Breer pointed out in his latest column at Sports Illustrated : Monken’s bio can tell you that. He worked with David Garrard in Jacksonville , Brandon Weeden at Oklahoma State, Nick Mullens at Southern Miss, Jameis Winston and Ryan Fitzpatrick in Tampa Bay, Baker Mayfield the first time around in Cleveland, Stetson Bennett IV at Georgia, and Lamar Jackson in Baltimore . That is a wide swath of QBs. He can build an offense for whoever wins that job. And, yes, I think the Browns would like to get one last long look at the quarterback they’re spending $230 million on and forked over three first-round picks for, now that Watson is back and healthy. Similarly, it’d make sense to have a full and thorough idea of who Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, and even Taylen Green are ahead of what could be a franchise-shifting offseason in 2027, with the team potentially lining up another big swing to get the quarterback position right once and for all next April. The good news is I think Monken can get all of that done—and do it in a fair way, that’ll give each of the guys a fair shot, which should also send a good message to the rest of the team. The Browns took a shot at Watson in 2022 because they had grown tired of Baker Mayfield and were desperate to do something. But because the Browns are one of several NFL teams that continually miss on quarterbacks, they face the very real possibility that they will need to ride with Watson one last time in 2026, as he might be the best choice in a group where everyone is a bad option. There is still a long way to go between now and the season opener in Jacksonville, so anything is still possible. But seeing Watson in the huddle on Cleveland’s first offensive series of the season may be the most “Browns is the Browns” moment in recent memory
The 2026 NFL regular-season schedule was released last week, and the Browns will open on Sept. 13 in Jacksonville as early 7.5-point underdogs – the second-biggest Week 1 spread. Which quarterback will be under center for Cleveland among a potential four-man competition between Deshaun Watson , Shedeur Sanders , Dillon Gabriel and rookie Taylen Green ? FanDuel offers odds. Fans who want to wager on NFL futures and tail Matt Severance's picks need to see the latest FanDuel promo code . I can't think of another recent quarterback battle that is so truly fascinating yet utterly uninteresting as those four guys going at it. Clearly, it's going to be another long NFL season in Cleveland, this time under first-year head coach Todd Monken – the former offensive coordinator of the AFC North-rival Baltimore Ravens . The Browns have lost at least 12 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2015-17 and have a projected win total of 6.5 this season, with the Under at -125. For the league's fewest wins and the chance to pick first atop the 2027 NFL Draft , which is generally considered loaded with franchise QBs, the Browns are +1300. They shouldn't be that bad with such a good defense led by Myles Garrett . Monken is the team's 11th head coach since 1999, second-most in the league over that span behind the Raiders ' 13. On Sept. 13, the 60-year-old Monken will become only the eighth non-interim head coach in NFL history to coach his first career game at 60-plus years old. It didn't go all that great for all the others career-wise. The last was David Culley in 2021 with Houston, and he lasted just one 4-13 campaign. Frankly, most believe whichever QB starts Week 1 and/or is the primary in 2026 is simply holding the seat warm for whichever signal-caller the Browns draft high in 2027 like an Arch Manning out of Texas or Dante Moore from Oregon. If you plan to bet on NFL futures, check out the latest DraftKings promo code for the best offer. The rookie Green, a sixth-round dual-threat out of Oregon, is the +8000 longshot to start vs. the Jags, and if he does then Green is the next Lamar Jackson or something went badly wrong for Cleveland. The 6-foot-6 Green (+15000 for Offensive Rookie of the Year) is an athlete, that's for sure. At the NFL Scouting Combine in February, he weighed 227 pounds and ran a 4.36 in the 40-yard dash, a combine record for quarterbacks. Simply making the roster would be a win. The southpaw Gabriel (+5500 to start Week 1) was Cleveland's first QB chosen in the 2025 draft at No. 94 overall in Round 3. Gabriel got into 10 games overall and six as a starter, going 1-5, and completed 59.5% of his throws for 937 yards, seven TDs and two picks. Gabriel's 31.4 QBR ranked 37th out of 38 NFL quarterbacks who started at least six games in 2025. Who ranked 38th? Sanders, whose QBR of 18.9 was the fifth-lowest of all quarterbacks with at least 200 attempts in the QBR era (since 2006), per ESPN. Sanders (+136) was the surprise the 144th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft and opened the year as the No. 4 QB on the depth chart but started the final seven games for Cleveland, going 3-4 and winning the final two. Sanders, who threw an NFL-high 10 picks since his Week 11 debut, wore No. 12 as a rookie but has switched back to the No. 2 that he wore in college. That number was taken in 2025 by Browns wideout DeAndre Carter . I think we all know enough about Watson (-174) by now, and if he wasn't on the worst contract in NFL history in terms of fully guaranteed money, then Watson would have been released a long time ago. But owner Jimmy Haslam, who has admitted the sunk cost on that horrendous trade from a few years ago with Houston, has said that Watson has a "great chance" and a "fresh start" with Monken. Watson, who hasn't played a game since Oct. 20, 2024, participated in the Browns' offseason workouts and has no limitations following his Achilles' tear. Per the Browns beat writers, Watson emerged from minicam
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With the NFL schedule release each year, one of the biggest questions is how many prime-time games the Cleveland Browns will receive . Historically, when the team is coming off a bad season, most of its games have been scheduled in the 1:00 p.m. EST time slot. This season is no different; the Browns have one primetime game on Thursday Night Football against the Pittsburgh Steelers in week four. The atmosphere in the stadium is more exciting for primetime games. Knowing that all eyes are on one game creates a special environment. There is a different level of intensity to these games, and it shows in the energy from both the players and the fans. On a week-to-week basis, it is much preferred to have 1:00 PM games. For a team that is struggling to find its identity, it is better not to have all eyes on its games. Cleveland will most likely be giving reps to a young quarterback this season, whether it is Shedeur Sanders , Dillon Gabriel , or Taylen Green , or Deshaun Watson , who will be trying to resurrect his career. There is significantly less pressure for a young quarterback to make mistakes and feel the speed of the game in a 1:00 PM game than in a primetime game. With a schedule heavily centered around afternoon games this season, the Browns could benefit both offensively and as a team overall. For fans who watch from home, dedicating evenings to a rebuilding team may not be the best use of their time. Having a consistent schedule at 1 PM allows for planning and stability. Let me know what you think in the comments – Do you prefer primetime or afternoon games for the Browns? What about for your viewing pleasure?
With an improved roster , a difficult road start to the season , a new head coach , and five new starters on the offensive line, the Cleveland Browns 2026 season has a lot of variables. The Browns schedule reveal showed a few games that are now harder because of how things are laid out and a few that could be easier . Cleveland is a huge underdog in Week 1, with one of the lowest betting odds for the Super Bowl as well . As is always true with NFL teams, the focus around the Browns will be on the quarterback position. Deshaun Watson might have the edge , but few believe he has a future in Cleveland. Shedeur Sanders has a chance to establish himself in the league after a rough rookie season, which followed a surprising drop in the 2025 NFL draft. For the Browns, 2026 is about winning games, finding out if they have their QB of the Future, and/or having the best shot at a franchise-level quarterback in the 2027 NFL draft. If the first two are true, Cleveland could add the best talent in college, WR Jeremiah Smith , and be ready to contend in 2027. If not, NFL draft positioning and who else is looking for a quarterback will be key. In both regards, Browns fans should be rooting for the following young quarterbacks, maybe in this order, to have great seasons: Shedeur Sanders – If Sanders can be a really good starter, Cleveland’s ceiling is very high starting in 2027. Sanders being good is THE best thing for the team moving forward. Whether he is or isn’t, the rest of the quarterbacks on this list being good could still help them out. Taylen Green – As a rookie, if Green can show that he can be an explosive playmaker, he gives the Browns an exciting backup and future trade chip, if not a starter. Dillon Gabriel – Gabriel was regarded at a higher level than Sanders coming out, not just by Kevin Stefanski, so a rebound year could up his trade value or solidify him as the team’s backup for the future, even if that rebound comes in preseason and spot duty. Carson Beck – Now we get to other teams, Beck’s Arizona Cardinals spent a 3rd round pick on him, and have a brutal schedule, but if he shows enough as a rookie, it could keep the Cardinals out of the quarterback market next year. If the Browns need to draft one, Arizona will likely be fighting for the worst record in the NFL, even if Beck looks solid. Drew Allar/Will Howard – From a narrative perspective, it won’t be great if the Medina native, Allar , looks good as a rookie. Frankly, a former Ohio State QB would also upset the masses as well. Aaron Rodgers is likely to return for one more season, but if he doesn’t or gets hurt, the Steelers roster is good enough to win some games with adequate quarterback play, keeping them from being near the top of the draft order next year. Cade Klubnik – Even if the Jets win some games with Geno Smith , they have the draft assets to likely move above the Browns (barring Cleveland picking first). Could the 4th round pick out of Clemson show enough, if he takes over late in the season, to keep New York from investing in a quarterback high? Given their draft stockpile, the Jets don’t have to be bad to still be able to draft a top quarterback, so Klubnik is the best way to keep them out of the Browns way. Malik Willis – Of all the quarterbacks on this list, Willis has the most experience. The Miami Dolphins signed Willis in free agency, but then traded WR Jaylen Waddle . If Willis helps win the Dolphins enough games, his contract is reasonable enough for them to hang their hopes on him, especially if they can add Smith to their receiver room. JJ McCarthy – A unique one at the bottom of the list, McCarthy may not start despite being a first-round pick just a couple of years ago. However, Kyler Murray is only signed for one season, and nothing is guaranteed with the Minnesota Vikings . Rooting for McCarthy to turn it around instead of the Vikings bottoming out would be in Cleveland’s interest. Are there any other young QBs that Browns fans
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Deion Sanders is planning to meet with Cleveland Browns coach Todd Monken about quarterback Shedeur Sanders ahead of the 2026 NFL season. The elder Sanders insists that the meeting – which has been temporarily postponed due to a commercial shoot – will be in his capacity as the younger Sanders' high school and college coach, not as his father. "I want to meet [Monken] because I think it's vital that as a coach – not the dad – I can tell him a few things about [Shedeur], how to get him going," Sanders explained in an episode of "The Barbershop" that was released May 14 . "That wasn't asked of me a year ago." PROFESSOR PRIME: Deion Sanders returns to Colorado class — and with blunt advice Sanders went on to explain he didn't understand why he hadn't previously been consulted about his son, or other players from his Colorado program. "Even a guy like Travis Hunter being drafted to Jacksonville and I've had him for the last three [years], don't you think you would want to talk to me to ask me what gets him going and what backs him off?" Sanders said. "You would want to know that." That's why Sanders "can't wait to have that conversation" with Monken, who earned praise from the Hall of Fame cornerback ahead of his first season coaching the Browns. "I love it, man, because he's a straight shooter," Sanders said of Monken. "He keeps it a buck." Sanders' planned conversation with Monken comes with his son engaged in one of the league's most wide-open quarterback battles. Cleveland is expected to allow Deshaun Watson , Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel and rookie Taylen Green battle for playing time during the 2026 NFL season. The elder Sanders is confident the competition will bring out the best in his son, who posted a 3-4 record and completed 56.6% of his passes for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions in seven starts as a rookie. OT Tytus Howard: Traded to Cleveland Browns (previous team: Houston Texans) CB Trent McDuffie: Traded to Los Angeles Rams (previous team: Kansas City Chiefs) RB David Montgomery: Traded to Houston Texans (previous team: Detroit Lions) WR DJ Moore: Traded to Buffalo Bills (previous team: Chicago Bears) OT Tytus Howard: Traded to Cleveland Browns (previous team: Houston Texans) OT Tytus Howard: Traded to Cleveland Browns (previous team: Houston Texans) CB Trent McDuffie: Traded to Los Angeles Rams (previous team: Kansas City Chiefs) RB David Montgomery: Traded to Houston Texans (previous team: Detroit Lions) WR DJ Moore: Traded to Buffalo Bills (previous team: Chicago Bears) The Colorado coach also lamented the way the younger Sanders was treated in the lead-up to the 2025 NFL Draft and during his rookie season, opining his son "went through hell" in the pre-draft process. "When he takes off his shirt, I see the scars on his back. That he's been through hell, but he's made it through hell," Sanders said. "A lot of people stop in the middle when they're walking through it. He kept going." "He matured, not like he was a child, but matured spiritually while understanding you can't force this. If it ain't your time, it ain't your time. Just sit back, prepare yourself and get ready." Specifically, the elder Sanders was bothered by the way his son was characterized ahead of the draft and during his rookie season, opining various reports and rumors about the 24-year-old quarterback were inaccurate. "He's always been a leader. It was some ignorant things came out about him pre-draft and all that, and that was a lie," Sanders said. "Like, he would never go into a meeting with headphones on. He would never go into a meeting unprepared. Like, that's just not who he is. There's no way he could accomplish the things he accomplished without being prepared." Shedeur Sanders – who was widely expected to be the among the first quarterbacks selected in the 2025 NFL Draft – ended up tumbling all the way to the fifth round . 2025 NFL DRAFT: Experts explain Shedeur Sanders' draft fall That l
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The Browns have signed second-round safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren to his four-year rookie deal, the team announced. Cleveland has now signed nine of its 10 draft picks, with only first-round wide receiver KC Concepcion remaining unsigned. The Browns drafted McNeil-Warren with the 58th overall pick out of Toledo. He appeared in 53 career games with 14 starts at Toledo in his four collegiate seasons. McNeil-Warren played in all 13 games in 2025, recording 77 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, half a sack and two interceptions, while earning third-team AP All-America honors. Browns first-round offensive tackle Spencer Fano, second-round wide receiver Denzel Boston, third-round tackle Austin Barber, fifth-round center Parker Brailsford, fifth-round linebacker Justin Jefferson, fifth-round tight end Joe Royer, sixth-round quarterback Taylen Green and seventh-round tight end Carsen Ryan previously signed
Browns rookie QB Taylen Green, drafted in the sixth round, believes his unique combination of size (6'6") and athleticism (4.36 40-yard dash, record-setting jumps) sets him apart from other quarterbacks, drawing comparisons to Lamar Jackson and Randall Cunningham but asserting his distinctiveness. Despite his traits, concerns about his 35 college interceptions and passing consistency remain as the Browns work to develop him
The Cleveland Browns are focusing on improving quarterback Taylen Green's fundamentals, particularly his footwork, cadence, and release time. Coach Todd Monken expressed satisfaction with Green's ability to work through progressions, but noted the need to tighten his release to avoid telegraphing throws and giving pass rushers more time. Despite these challenges, Green's potential is seen as unlimited if these fundamental skills can be refined
The Cleveland Browns have signed eight of their ten draft picks, including first-round offensive tackle Spencer Fano, to their rookie contracts. Other signed draft picks include wide receiver Denzel Boston, tackle Austin Barber, center Parker Brailsford, linebacker Justin Jefferson, tight ends Joe Royer and Carsen Ryan, and quarterback Taylen Green. Wide receiver KC Concepcion and safety Emmaneul McNeil-Warren remain unsigned. The team also added 12 undrafted free agents, including Spencer's brother, defensive end Logan Fano, along with running backs Davon Booth and TJ Harden, among others
The Browns selected Green in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 182nd overall. Green spent the first three years of his college career at Boise State before transferring to Arkansas in 2024, where he operated as a dual-threat quarterback for the Razorbacks. He finished his senior season completing 60.7 percent of his passes for 2,714 yards, 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while turning 139 carries into 777 yards and eight scores across 12 games. Green was a standout at the 2026 NFL Combine in February, with his 4.36-second 40-yard dash being the fastest among quarterbacks since Reggie McNeal in 2026. Green joins a Browns quarterback room that also consists of Deshaun Watson and 2025 selections Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. However, it's worth noting that Cleveland hired Todd Monken as the head coach, and Monken served as the Ravens' offensive coordinator from 2023 to 2025 with Lamar Jackson as the starting quarterback, which could help Green emerge from the rest of the pack
The Cleveland Browns have selected QB Taylen Green with the No. 182 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Cleveland Browns have no shortage of quarterbacks after drafting two in last year's draft. However, Taylen Green will likely never play quarterback for the Browns. Instead, expect Cleveland to turn Green into a do-it-all gadget player to take advantage of his athletic abilities. Fantasy players in deeper dynasty leagues should consider Green a late-round sleeper pick in rookie drafts
The Cleveland Browns opened the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft by selecting Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green with the 182nd overall pick. A dynamic athlete who began his collegiate career at Boise State, Green's size and speed had some wondering if his best path to an NFL career might come by transitioning to another position, but Browns general manager Andrew Berry has already gone on record that he will play quarterback. Green joins one of the most crowded quarterback rooms in the league with Deshaun Watson now six seasons removed from his Pro Bowl form with the Texans, and 2025 picks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders both making starts in their rookie season. At 6'6" and 235 pounds, Green ran a 4.36 40-yard dash at the Combine after running for more than 1,800 yards and 16 touchdowns across his two seasons at Arkansas, making him an intriguing late-round pick in rookie drafts
Arkansas QB Taylen Green visited the Steelers on Monday. Green previously visited the Ravens and the Cowboys. He was one of the top testers at the combine which could rise his stock heading into next week
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