Monken Refuses to Name a Starter — And That Tells You Everything
Cleveland, we have a quarterback competition. Still. And honestly? That might be the most encouraging thing to come out of mandatory minicamp this week.
Watson and Sanders handled the first-team reps during OTAs and minicamp, with Monken’s approach featuring each having one full day with the first team and then splitting the reps on the final day of minicamp on June 11. The competition will continue into training camp, as Monken said both Sanders and Watson have earned the opportunity to keep competing for the starting job, with the team planning to continue alternating first-team reps into training camp.
It was not all that long ago when it seemed likely that Monken would name Watson the Week 1 starter shortly after minicamp wrapped. However, recent reports suggested that Sanders had closed the gap in the competition. That’s a significant shift from where things stood in late April, when Watson was widely viewed as having the inside track.
What Watson and Sanders Said
Yesterday in Berea was quarterback day. Deshaun Watson spoke to reporters for the first time since October 16, 2024 — four days before the Achilles tear against the Cincinnati Bengals. That alone tells you how long this road back has been.
Watson stated that his relationship with Sanders has been “growing, even during pre-draft,” emphasizing mutual respect. Watson added: “We both have the opportunity to go out there and put out the best product for the team and let Monken and the organization choose who goes out there, and we’re going to support each other.”
Sanders, for his part, kept it cool. He told reporters: “I think the way how y’all look at things is different than how we look at things. We look at coming to practice every day, being the best player we can be as an individual and as a good teammate.”
Tyson Campbell offered a telling endorsement of Sanders: “You can see the growth big time. The way he carries himself, the way he practices, he’s being even more of a pro than he was last year. He’s getting better and getting more comfortable making plays.”
My Take: Sanders Wins a Tie
Let me be direct with you. Watson had an up-and-down Day 2 of minicamp with one pick-six thrown to S Ronnie Hickman, though he also connected deep down the right sideline with rookie WR Denzel Boston for a big gain. That’s Deshaun Watson in a nutshell right now — flashes sandwiched between mistakes.
Sanders struggled with sloppy play that led to 12 turnovers as a rookie, 10 of those interceptions. But he’s a year older, a year smarter, and on a contract that doesn’t make your stomach turn. While Sanders is signed via an inexpensive rookie contract through the 2028 season, Watson is in the final year of his fully guaranteed five-year, $230M deal.
If this race stays close through training camp and preseason, the Browns should go with Sanders. The upside is higher, the cost is lower, and the organization needs to see what it has in him before building around a long-term plan. Watson needs to crush this competition to win it — not just edge it out.
The New Offensive Line Is Taking Shape
During the Browns’ first 11-on-11 set, the first offensive line group featured Spencer Fano at left tackle, Zion Johnson at left guard, Elgton Jenkins at center, KT Leveston at right guard and Tytus Howard at right tackle.
Coach Monken said the offensive line is not quite settled and likely won’t be until training camp gets real. Monken told reporters he has “a pretty good idea of four of the five” spots up front. That unsettled fifth spot is right guard, where Leveston, Austin Barber, and others are still jockeying.
Here’s the current projected starting five:
- LT: Spencer Fano (rookie, No. 9 overall pick)
- LG: Zion Johnson
- C: Elgton Jenkins
- RG: TBD (Leveston getting first crack)
- RT: Tytus Howard
Fano, the No. 9 overall pick, was running with the second-string offensive line during the first week of OTAs. By the end, he was running as the starting left tackle. That’s the kind of progress you love to see from a rookie.
Joel Bitonio: A Cleveland Brown for Life
Longtime Cleveland Browns left guard Joel Bitonio announced his retirement after 12 seasons in the NFL. Bitonio, 34, spent his entire career in Cleveland and was named to seven Pro Bowls, tied with Myles Garrett for the fourth most in team history.
GM Andrew Berry said: “Joel Bitonio set the standards for on-field excellence, professionalism and loyalty during his 12-year career with our organization. Few have achieved as much as Joel has during his 178 starts. We applaud a career that should be Canton-bound.”
Bitonio’s 178 starts are the most by any Browns player since the franchise returned to Cleveland in 1999. That number is staggering. When you think about the carousel of chaos this franchise has endured — and Bitonio showed up every single week — it hits different. Retire that No. 75.
Jared Verse Hits Team Drills
A week after being acquired by the Browns in a trade, DE Jared Verse participated in his first team drills. He went through individual periods during the final week of OTAs before taking reps in team drills on the first day of minicamp.
GM Berry said the reason the trade came to fruition was the inclusion of Verse, describing him as a “perfect DNA match” for their defense. Verse won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2025 and has 12.0 sacks and a 15.3% pass rush win rate at edge over his two seasons. He is also one of the best run-stopping edges in the league, ranking second in run stop win rate at edge behind only Maxx Crosby.
Verse told fans via the team’s social media that he’s ready to “change the season.” That’s bold talk for a guy replacing a franchise icon — but I’m here for it.
KC Concepcion Signed, Rookie Class Complete
The Browns signed first-round wide receiver KC Concepcion, completing their 2026 draft class signings. Concepcion — the No. 24 overall pick — signed a fully guaranteed four-year, $20 million deal.
The receiver room outside of Jerry Jeudy, Isaiah Bond, Denzel Boston, and Concepcion has the final two spots completely up for grabs. Bond flashed some chemistry with Sanders down the stretch in 2025, and that connection has continued to blossom this spring. Bond caught a long touchdown bomb from Sanders during OTAs, and Monken raved about how Bond has come on over the last week and a half.
The Bottom Line
Minicamp is over. The Browns break for six weeks before training camp kicks off in late July. Here’s what we know:
- The QB competition is real. Sanders has earned the right to fight for this job into camp. That’s a win for him.
- The offensive line has four starters locked in. Right guard is the remaining battle.
- Bitonio is gone. His legacy is secure. Ring of Honor, minimum. Canton isn’t out of the question.
- Jared Verse is already making an impression. Replacing Myles Garrett is impossible, but Verse plus three draft picks is the kind of haul that could define this rebuild.
- The receiving corps has upside. Bond, Boston, and Concepcion give this offense a different feel — younger, faster, and more explosive.
This is a young, transitioning team. The post-Garrett, post-Bitonio era is officially here. It’s going to be bumpy. It might also be exciting. That’s the deal with rebuilds — you can feel the pain and the potential at the same time.
See you at training camp, Dawg Pound.
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