Monken: Browns QB starter reps won't be 'evenly dispersed'

Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken told reporters Tuesday that quarterback practice reps during the offseason won't be evenly divided amid a battle for the starting signal-caller job.

"I wouldn't say they're going to be evenly dispersed, but we'll definitely disperse them to give ourselves a chance to at least evaluate who we have on the roster, whoever that might be, as we go through the offseason," Monken said, according to ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi.

He added, "You'd love to be able to come out of the spring with a depth chart. That doesn't mean there's still not competition. But I do think you have to narrow the reps or at least balance up the reps of who you anticipate has come out of the spring certainly in a position to be a starter."

Monken also said the reps will fluctuate throughout the spring and that first-starter practice snaps will be based on "what we've seen in the past and where the year ended last year."

However, the first-year head coach wouldn't commit to naming Shedeur Sanders as taking the majority of the starter reps when offseason practices begin.

Sanders is entering his second NFL season after Cleveland drafted him in the fifth round in 2025. He started the final seven games of last season, posting a 3-4 record in those contests. Sanders completed just over 56% of his throws, finishing the year with 1,400 passing yards with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Out of 37 qualifying signal-callers in 2025, Sanders ranked last in EPA/play and success rate, according to Ben Baldwin's database.

Sanders is competing with Deshaun Watson and fellow second-year quarterback Dillon Gabriel for the starting job. Watson, who missed the entire 2025 season due to a torn Achilles, is now fully healthy and ready to practice. Owner Jimmy Haslem said Monday that Watson has a solid opportunity to be the Week 1 starter in 2026.

"Deshaun has a great chance, fresh start, offensive-minded coach, who has in his past been able to work with all kinds of different quarterbacks and make them successful," Haslam told reporters, according to Oyefusi.

"We talked to him the other day, he said he weighs the (least) he has in several years. He's in great shape, he'll be (in Cleveland) on April 7 when we start (the offseason workout program). Let's see what Deshaun can do. We're all excited."

Watson signed a five-year, $230-million fully guaranteed deal in 2022 after the Browns traded three first-round selections to the Houston Texans to acquire him. Cleveland restructured Watson's contract a few weeks ago to give him a $44.9-million cap hit in 2026, according to Over The Cap. He has two void years remaining on his deal after next season, with $35-plus million cap hits in 2027 and 2028.

The 30-year-old has a 9-10 record in 19 starts with the Browns, throwing for 3,365 yards with 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.