As the Cleveland Browns wrapped up their offseason program, the highly anticipated quarterback competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders remained unresolved, leaving fans eagerly awaiting further evaluation in game-like settings.
The Cleveland Browns closed out their offseason program without naming a starting quarterback, leaving the competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders unresolved heading into training camp. Coaches made clear that preseason game reps — not OTA performances — will drive the final decision, a deliberate approach that signals just how consequential this choice is for the franchise’s direction.
The Quarterback Conundrum: Watson vs Sanders – Who Will Emerge Victorious?
Beyond the quarterback room, the offensive picture carried genuine optimism. A pair of newly added wide receivers made immediate impressions, while a reshuffled offensive line worked through rotations at two unsettled interior spots — both storylines that will define Cleveland’s offensive ceiling in 2025.
Few position battles in the AFC North carry as much weight this summer as the one playing out in Berea. The Browns’ starting quarterback decision will shape the team’s offensive identity, its ceiling as a playoff contender, and the long-term roster construction strategy — all at once.
Watson enters the competition as the incumbent, completing 137 of 216 pass attempts for 1,148 yards and 5 touchdowns last season — numbers that reflect a player still working back from a significant injury history rather than one operating at his 2020 peak. Sanders, the rookie out of Colorado, countered with 1,552 passing yards and 9 touchdown passes on 137 completions in 2025, demonstrating the accuracy and pocket composure that made him one of the most discussed prospects in the draft class. The gap in production is real, but so is the gap in NFL experience.
Head coach Todd Monken and his staff have resisted pressure to fast-track a decision, a stance that reflects both the stakes involved and the genuine uncertainty between the two options. Preseason games will serve as the primary evaluation window, giving both quarterbacks live-game reps against opposing defenses — the only environment that truly separates legitimate starters from practice-field performers.
Offensive Firepower: Newcomers Ignite Excitement Among Wide Receiver Corps
Monken offered a telling glimpse into the offensive room’s early momentum, singling out the wide receiver group specifically. “The way Denzel and KC have hit the ground running has been impressive. And then [Bond], with him getting a full offseason under his belt, it’s been great to see,” Monken said — a comment that underscores the coaching staff’s confidence in the pass-catching unit even as the quarterback situation remains fluid.
While the quarterback competition dominates the headlines, Cleveland’s wide receiver room has quietly become one of the more encouraging storylines of the offseason. The group’s early chemistry and playmaking ability have given the coaching staff a legitimate reason for optimism about the passing game’s potential, regardless of who ultimately takes the first snap in Week 1.
Rookies KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston wasted no time making their presence felt, drawing consistent praise from coaches during OTAs and minicamp. Both players showed the route-running sharpness and hands that earned them roster spots, and their ability to get open quickly matters enormously for a quarterback — Watson or Sanders — who will need reliable targets to operate efficiently behind a line still finding its footing.
Second-year receiver Isaiah Bond adds another layer of depth to the group. Bond hauled in 18 receptions for 338 yards as a rookie, and with a full offseason of system familiarity now behind him, he has taken a noticeable step forward in his route precision and release timing. His development gives Cleveland a legitimate three-receiver rotation with different skill sets — a versatility that Monken’s offense can exploit in multiple formations.
Reshuffling the Trenches: Offensive Line Seeks Stability Amidst Changes
The Browns’ ability to stretch the field and create mismatches in the passing game will depend heavily on this receiver group’s continued growth. If Concepcion, Boston, and Bond can sustain their offseason momentum into the regular season, Cleveland’s aerial attack has the personnel to be genuinely dangerous — provided the quarterback and offensive line hold up their end of the bargain.
The offensive line remains the unit most in need of resolution before the season opener. Cleveland has four starters locked in, but the center and right guard spots are still unsettled, with the coaching staff cycling through multiple combinations in search of the pairing that offers the best protection and run-blocking consistency.
The rotation at center and right guard is not simply a depth chart exercise — it carries real consequences for how the offense functions. Interior line instability creates communication breakdowns at the point of attack, disrupts run-blocking assignments, and forces quarterbacks to process pressure faster than the scheme intends. Getting these two spots right before Week 1 is a priority the Browns cannot afford to defer.
Whoever wins the quarterback job will need a functional offensive line to operate effectively. Watson has shown he can extend plays and work through progressions when given time, while Sanders’ quick release and anticipation throws are best utilized when he is not immediately under duress. Either way, a stable interior line is the prerequisite for unlocking what this receiving corps can do.
Defensive Dilemma: Overcoming Garrett’s Departure, Maintaining Dominance
The sack data from last season makes the offensive line urgency concrete. Watson absorbed 33 sacks for 191 yards lost, while Sanders surrendered 30 sacks resulting in 211 yards lost in 2025. Those numbers reflect both individual pocket management and systemic protection breakdowns — and they represent a baseline the Browns must improve on if the offense is going to take a meaningful step forward.
The defensive side of the ball carries its own significant challenge heading into 2025. Myles Garrett’s departure removes the most disruptive pass rusher in Cleveland’s recent history — a player who recorded 23 sacks for 165 yards last season and earned Pro Bowl recognition as one of the premier edge rushers in the entire NFL. Replacing that level of production through a single player is not realistic; the Browns will need a collective response from the entire defensive front.
The coaching staff has publicly expressed confidence in the defense’s ability to remain competitive despite the loss, pointing to scheme adaptability and the emergence of younger pass rushers as the path forward. Whether that confidence is warranted will depend on how quickly new contributors can establish themselves as consistent threats off the edge — a process that typically takes time even for talented players.
Monken’s Imprint: A New Era of Intensity and Accountability Dawns
Preseason games will provide the first real read on how the defense intends to compensate for Garrett’s absence. Analysts and fans alike will be watching the pass rush closely, tracking whether Cleveland can generate consistent pressure without its former cornerstone — or whether opposing offenses will have the time to expose a secondary that no longer has the same elite edge threat behind it.
Off the field, the organizational tone in Berea has shifted noticeably since Todd Monken took over as head coach. Players and observers who have been around the facility describe a more demanding, structured environment — one where accountability is enforced daily and the standard of preparation has been raised across the roster.
Monken’s approach during practices has been hands-on and vocal, with a clear emphasis on execution details and competitive reps. That style — familiar to anyone who followed his tenure as offensive coordinator at Georgia, where he helped build one of the most efficient college offenses in recent memory — translates directly into how he runs a professional practice environment.
The cultural reset Monken is driving matters beyond the Xs and Os. Teams that win consistently in the NFL typically share a common trait: a defined standard of work that does not fluctuate based on the schedule or the standings. Monken appears to be building that foundation in Cleveland, and the early response from the roster has been encouraging by most accounts from inside the facility.
