As the NFL Scouting Combine took place in Indianapolis, the Cleveland Browns front office was in attendance to answer both questions and meet with NFL draft prospects. With the offseason officially starting, the Browns will have plenty of questions to answer regarding the quarterback position. It’s safe to say that the team knows that there is no definitive answer on the roster right now, and the team is looking for options to make the room better.
GM Andrew Berry and HC Todd Monken met with the media, and he gave this answer when it came to who the starter is going into the season.
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Monken plans to let things play out with QB Deshaun Watson and plans to have a quarterback competition of some kind, as well. Berry told the media in attendance that all three quarterbacks, adding Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel to Watson, have a shot at the starting gig:
Berry clarified that the team isn’t in a rush to make a decision and that the quarterbacks in the current room will have to earn the job. To sum it up, it’s open season for the QB1 job.
In Sanders’ case, he has a lot to work on. In terms of his overall play, there are mixed feelings amongst the fanbase. Some will believe he played well, others don’t. Others will believe that Sanders played well despite the offensive situation around him, and with a full offseason under his belt with a better support system, the team could be better.
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All of the sentiments are fair, but the team not committing to Sanders early is a good thing. Sanders has to earn the job, and his play last season doesn’t guarantee that he is automatically the starter come Week 1. Can Sanders grow as a quarterback? Yes, he has shown he has the work ethic, but he has to be more consistent in his approach. It’s not a controversial take to say that Sanders did not get better late last season; he took a step back instead of taking a step forward.
Watson hasn’t played since 2023, and before the Achilles injury, his play was atrocious. Watson’s contract is on the books for another season, and the Browns will likely cut ties at some point. Watson knows this is his last chance of being a starter in the NFL due to his play and the legal issues he had prior to the Browns trading for him.
As far as the rest of the room, it’s a long shot if Gabriel is on the roster around May, and the team is likely going to explore all options to get better in the one position that the team has missed on for consecutive years.
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