The Cleveland Browns are entering the 2026 season with their starting quarterback undecided just yet. NFL insider Rich Eisen called out the Browns and head coach Todd Monken for delaying their QB1 decision.

Head coach Todd Monken, at the end of the mandatory minicamp on June 11, revealed that the QB1 spot is still up for grabs between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson and could be decided by the second preseason game. Eisen revealed who he thinks this entire ordeal is a problem for. 

“The only person for whom this is a problem is Dillon Gabriel because he hasn’t been mentioned once,” said Eisen on The Rich Eisen Show on June 15. “He lost his number to Jared Verse, who just appears to be the body snatcher.”

Dillon Gabriel was the third-round pick of the Browns during the 2025 Draft. In his rookie year, Gabriel played 10 games, of which six were as a starter, and ended with a 1-5 record. He registered 937 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and a 59.5% completion rate. 

Per Jon Conahan of The Sporting News, coach Monken told reporters at the minicamp that the Browns have “two starting-level quarterbacks”. Conahan added that the statement by Monken reveals that Gabriel has no chance in a QB1 competition dominated by Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson.

JR DeGroote of Heavy.com reported that while Monken hoped to make his decision before training camp in July, the timeline now extends to the preseason. 

One of the reasons for doing so is that the preseason performance would reveal how healthy Watson is. The game situations would provide a clearer indication of how he responds to pressure and contact after his long time away from the field due to his Achilles injury.

Conahan further added that with the unpredictable nature in the NFL, there is a possibility that Gabriel would get an opportunity in case of injuries and other unforeseen factors. With the focus remaining on Sanders and Watson, Eisen, on his show, shared his pick for the QB1 competition.

Why Eisen Thinks Watson Gets the First Shot, And Why It Matters

JR DeGroote revealed that Rich Eisen has been one of Shedeur Sanders’ most prominent defenders. But, he doesn’t expect the Browns to hand Sanders the week 1 job.

“You know I’m a Sanders caper,” added Eisen. “But I think at the end of the day, they’re going to see Deshaun Watson and go ‘All right, you came back from your Achilles. We’ve put so much into you. So much grief for the decision that we made. We’re going to see what we’ve got in you before we move on.”

Watson carries a $44M cap hit in 2026 after restructuring. He is owed $46M fully guaranteed cash this year, with over $131M in dead money if released.

Eisen revealed that the Browns could pick Watson and test his performance. If he doesn’t deliver, they’ll go ahead with Sanders for the remaining half. 

Eisen concluded that the Browns would test both Sanders and Watson in the meantime and focus on the upcoming supplemental draft that’s touted to be a “quarterback-heavy” one, including Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby as the top prospect.

What are your thoughts on the QB competition?

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Written by

Naomi Grace

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi