ClevelandBrownsCommunity
Subscribe

Credits: IMAGO

Feb 17, 2026, 10:21 AM CUT

Former NFL Player Warns Todd Monken Over Shedeur Sanders' Development

Shedeur Sanders and the Cleveland Browns' head coach. These two have been the point of contorvery whole of the 2025 season. And it might not rest with the Browns changing the head coach.

Todd Monken has spoken positively about Sanders. But former NFL player Emmanuel Acho has warned him not to waste his coaching tenure by focusing solely on Sanders as QB. On the Speakeasy show, he said:

"If you are Todd Monken…you're 59 years old and you only got this job because you wrote an essay, you can't afford for your sole coaching opportunity to be tethered to whether or not Shedeur will take the next step or not."

Acho took a sly dig at the Browns' head coach hiring process, where it was rumored that the candidates had to write an essay. Echo also warned Monken over Sanders because he believes that a bad performance by the QB could threaten his track record as a head coach.

That is why he also advised the Browns' head coach not to stick with Shedeur Sanders as the QB1. "If you are the Cleveland Browns, either free agency, either the Draft, I do believe you have to make a move to find some competition because competition breeds excellence."

Getting a QB from the 2026 NFL draft can be tough for the Browns because they have the 6th pick. Plus, the QB class this time around is not that great.

There are reports that they are interested in Malik Willis, who is a free agent. Emmanuel Acho wants Sanders to feel complete.

He said on the show, "So even if it's not competition to supplant Shedeur, at least go get some competition to make sure that Shedeur is challenged. Make sure that you're going to get the best out of Shedeur."

But do the Browns really need to bring an outside QB for that? They already have Dillion Gabriel and Deshaun Watson in the room. Plus, an NFL Insider has also denied the talks of the Browns drafting a quarterback.

NFL Insider Denies a Replacement for Shedeur Sanders and Other Browns QBs

Network Insider Cameron Wolfe reported that the franchise will look for players that can help the QB in the 2026 NFL Draft rather than the QB itself.

He talked about how GM Andrew Berry told him that they are looking to invest in the wide receivers and offensive linemen.

"Don’t be surprised if they don’t select a quarterback in the first round of this draft...There’s still optimism for Shedeur Sanders in Cleveland, especially with Todd Monken now as the head coach," Wolfe added.

Shedeur Sanders had a passer rating of 68.1 with 1,400 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 8 games in 2025. Would you take him as the Browns QB1 in the 2026 season?

Read more at the Cleveland Browns Community!

Written by

Reyansh Dubey

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu