On Wednesday, Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken attended a press meeting and addressed one of the most pressing questions about the franchise’s 2026 starting lineup. 

The Browns have yet to decide who will be the starting back in the upcoming season. The team has gone through three different starting QBs in the last couple of years, including rookie starters Dillion Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Now with Dehsaun Watson also set to return, the franchise QB question is at the forefront.

When asked about his opinion on the issue, Todd Monken stated that the management is still working on the position.

"I think like any position on the team, that's still to be determined. Am I excited about Shedeur, am I excited about all the QBs in the room. Am I excited to coach this football team? Absolutely," said Todd Monek.

“I can't wait for them to get back and for us to get started,” Monken added. Meanwhile, Shedeur Sanders has always made his intentions to become the starting QB quite clear.

Per The Sporting News' Andy McNemara, Sanders had allegedly sent one clear message to the Baltimore Ravens in the 2025 NFL Draft. “Don’t pick me,” Sander's asked Monken’s former franchise because he would wait until Lamar Jackson relinquished the franchise QB status. 

Thankfully, Todd Monken and Sanders Have Started on the Right Foot

Monken, who was the Ravens’ offensive coordinator in 2025, remembered that exchange and even bought it up in his first official meeting with Sanders.

"Hey, we tried to draft your a** last year, for God's sake... It's all worked out. You remember that, right? Someday we'll get a chance to talk about that," Todd Monken said.

And Sanders has nothing but praise for his new coach. After Monken’s hiring, some fans have voiced out their disappointment with the decision, but Snaders is tolerating none of that. He recently came to Monken’s defense and said he’s feeling about himself at the prospect of working with him.

“He's cool. Truthfully, excited and ready to work. I think I'm almost back to myself. Emotionally, mentally, and physically,” the 23-year-old told Sirius XM NFL Radio.

So only time will tell whether the new Bowns coach will keep Shedeurn Sanders on as a starting quarterback.

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi