Todd Monken isn't rushing into a quarterback decision for theCleveland Browns.
The new head coach is taking over a team that currently hasDeshaun Watson,Shedeur SandersandDillon Gabrielall hoping to move up the depth chart to the starting job before Week 1. While Watson is the most experienced and successful of the bunch, availability has been a problem for the quarterback.
Even with that in mind, Monken told reporters ahead of the NFL combine that it would be unfair to count him out of the competition at this point.
"I think any time that you have a player that, at one time, has exhibited the skillset at an elite level, I think you're always going to give them the benefit of the doubt that somehow we might be able to get that out of them again,"Monken said at the NFL combine on Feb. 25. "And I think that's how you should look at every player."
The coach added that he will let the situation play out, comparing it to taking a test in school.
"I think it'd be completely unfair, just like it would be in any classroom setting," Monken said. "Be it a history exam and all the students walk in, and before they're actually given the exam, you give them a grade. Well, how would you give them a grade? Based on male, female, race, how they look, how they're dressed, I think that's unfair."
2. New York Jets – Arvell Reese, LB/DE, Ohio State" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
3. Arizona Cardinals – Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (Fla.)" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
4. Tennessee Titans – Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (Fla.)" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
5. New York Giants – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
6. Cleveland Browns – Spencer Fano, OT, Utah" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
7. Washington Commanders – David Bailey, DE/OLB, Texas Tech" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
8. New Orleans Saints – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
9. Kansas City Chiefs – Makai Lemon, WR, USC" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
10. Cincinnati Bengals – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
11. Miami Dolphins – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
12. Dallas Cowboys – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) – Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
14. Baltimore Ravens – Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
17. Detroit Lions – Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
18. Minnesota Vikings – Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
19. Carolina Panthers – Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
21. Pittsburgh Steelers – KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
22. Los Angeles Chargers – Caleb Banks, DT, Florida" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
23. Philadelphia Eagles – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
24. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars) – Denzel Boston, WR, Washington" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
27. San Francisco 49ers – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
29. Los Angeles Rams – Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
30. Denver Broncos – CJ Allen, LB, Georgia" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
31. New England Patriots – Cashius Howell, OLB, Texas A&M" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
32. Seattle Seahawks – Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl
Of course, there is plenty of time before Week 1 with the2026 NFL Draft,free agencyand more still to come. It's unclear what the Browns can expect from Watson this offseason, especially after the quarterback missed the entire 2025 season recovering from a torn Achilles.
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Aside from the drop in production, the former Houston Texans star has barely been on the field since being acquired by Cleveland ahead of the 2022 season. He has played in only 19 of the Browns' 68 regular season games during that time.
Monken acknowledged that there will some bias based on what they already know, that won't impact the final decision.
"Now you're going to have some preconceived notions, obviously, because we have prior evidence, but I don't decide who plays.
"The players decide who plays."
Todd Monken on Shedeur Sanders
Monken is expected to navigate a tricky situation with the Cleveland quarterback room, including whether or not Sanders should be the unchallenged QB1.
While Sanders might not have the inside track to start, the new head coach said he does see unique traits in Sanders, and named one on Wednesday.
"I think what you see is elite playmaking ability, that's in him," Monken said of Sanders. "You've seen it, we've seen it, you saw it in college, you saw it on tape last year. Sure there's a ways to go, but what rookie isn't? What first-year player doesn't have a long way to go?"
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Browns' Todd Monken says it's unfair to count out Deshaun Watson