The Paradigm Shift Nobody Saw Coming
Something changed at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on Wednesday. Something significant.
For the first time all offseason, Shedeur Sanders ran with the first team in the full view of the media. In virtually every competitive drill at Wednesday’s OTA practice, Sanders was the guy taking the first reps — not Deshaun Watson.
Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot didn’t mince words on her podcast: “I felt there was a paradigm shift today.”
This matters because the coverage to-date had mostly indicated that Watson had been the clear front-runner through the first two open OTA sessions. Watson had looked polished. He had looked like the veteran he is. And yet, here we are.
Monken Pumps the Brakes — Sort Of
Head coach Todd Monken addressed reporters and offered what amounts to the most honest non-answer of the offseason: “We got two starting-level quarterbacks, and that’s a great problem to have.”
He went further, praising both players. On Sanders: “Shedeur has a real command of the offense already. He’s a smart kid, sees the field really well, and the ball comes out of his hand on time.” On Watson: “Deshaun, we know what we have with Deshaun. He’s a proven franchise quarterback. The work he’s put in this offseason is evident, and he’s looking explosive.”
And then the kicker: “I’m not going to put a timeline on it. When it’s clear, it’ll be clear.”
That’s a notable shift. Monken had said earlier this offseason that he’d hoped to have his QB1 identified by the end of minicamp. That’s no longer a certainty.
Cabot’s latest reporting reinforces the idea that the race is tightening: “I think Shedeur has come on so strong in the last few weeks that it’s making them think maybe we should see what he can do in training camp before we decide that perhaps Deshaun Watson is QB1.”
Watson’s Case: The Veteran Edge
Let’s not bury Watson here. With Watson healthy and entering the final year of his fully guaranteed $230 million contract, the veteran is getting what amounts to a clean slate on the field with new coach Todd Monken.
Reports from earlier OTA sessions were overwhelmingly positive for Watson. “Only two of the six practices have been open to the media, but in those sessions, Watson appeared to be serving as QB1 in many key drills. He’s also hit far more explosive plays in the two open practices, and sources have said it’s been similar on the closed days.”
Watson has also impressed with his mobility, taking off on option plays and looking fast enough to be effective — a pleasant surprise given his two Achilles surgeries.
Sanders’ Case: The Future Knocking
Sanders completed 56.6% of his passes as a rookie for 1,400 yards with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Those aren’t world-beating numbers. But context matters — the young star started the final seven games of the 2025 season, showing flashes.
The staff has been very impressed with Sanders’ progress since the voluntary minicamp, so anything can still happen. Wednesday’s practice felt like proof that the coaching staff isn’t just going through the motions with this competition.
Dabo in Berea: A Nod to Watson’s Roots
Adding an interesting wrinkle to Thursday’s OTA: Browns OTAs brought a guest to Berea that nobody saw coming — Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney made an appearance at OTA No. 9, bringing his staff along and spending time talking with Todd Monken and the Browns coaching staff.
Swinney coached Watson at Clemson, and the two of them won a national championship together in 2016. Whether this was a social visit or something more, the optics of Watson’s college coach watching practice during a tight QB competition certainly raised some eyebrows.
Beyond the QBs: The Garrett Aftershock and Verse’s Arrival
The QB battle is consuming the oxygen in Berea, but the seismic trade of Myles Garrett is still reverberating. The Browns traded Garrett, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, to the Rams for Verse, a 2027 first-round draft pick, a 2028 second-round pick and a 2029 third-round pick.
Speaking to the media for the first time since he was dealt, Verse admitted he was initially upset by the news but looks forward to being a part of a team “that believed in me.”
The Dayton, Ohio native isn’t trying to be anyone else. “I’m not here to fill his shoes,” Verse said. “I’m here to bring my own. I’m here to work and be the best version of me.”
Head coach Todd Monken noticed from his first interaction with Verse a level of excitement and appreciation to be with the Browns. Verse was on the practice field for both Wednesday and Thursday OTAs, already integrating with his new defensive teammates.
Judkins Looking Explosive, OL Taking Shape
Second-year running back Quinshon Judkins continues to be one of the best stories of OTAs. Judkins had a strong rookie year in 2025 despite the team cycling through four different starting quarterbacks and a million different offensive line combinations. He is already just about 100 percent and recently impressed everyone in the building at OTAs.
Film analyst Lance Reisland summed it up bluntly: “He looks more explosive than he did last year at this point. My No. 1 takeaway from that OTA the other day was without question his explosiveness. It was super, super impressive.”
The rebuilt offensive line is coming together around him. Spencer Fano anchors the left tackle spot after being selected ninth overall in the draft. Zion Johnson and Elgton Jenkins will control the interior. Teven Jenkins adds depth and versatility. Tytus Howard holds down the right side. This is a completely rebuilt unit that gives Judkins something he never had as a rookie.
The Bottom Line
Mandatory minicamp is June 9-11. Ideally, Monken has said he would know his QB1 by the time training camp opens — that’s in late July. But Wednesday’s practice made it clear this competition has legs.
My take? The fact that Monken gave Sanders those first-team reps with the media watching tells you the coaching staff doesn’t view this as Watson’s job. Not yet. Maybe not for a while. Sanders is forcing them to think long and hard about the future — and that’s exactly what a second-year QB should be doing.
Buckle up, Dawg Pound. This one’s going deep into summer.
- Mandatory minicamp: June 9-11
- Training camp opens: Late July
- Week 1: Browns at Jacksonville Jaguars, Sept. 13
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