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Elgton Jenkins makes feelings clear on Browns QB battle.
The Cleveland Browns have done a nice job adding to the offensive line, but the team hasn’t added a quarterback.
If Cleveland doesn’t draft a quarterback, it seems likely that the team will enter the season with Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson battling for the starting job. Although there are question marks around both guys, new Browns’ offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins believes the team can have success with either.
“Me being on another team, I’ve seen both of them play some real good football,” Jenkins said about the quarterbacks in his introductory press conference. “So just keeping everything competitive. No matter who wins the starting spot we’re going to be there for him. The (No.) 1 or the 2. We’re going to be there for him.
“So I guess just keeping it competitive and just being there for both of them when they need it. But they’re very good football players and I’m excited to work with them.”
Jenkins has full confidence in both Sanders and Watson, and noticed both from afar while he was a member of the Green Bay Packers. So, he’s just eager to block for either of them and help Cleveland get back to the playoffs.
The Browns signed Jenkins to a two-year, $24 million deal as he’ll likely be the team’s starting center.
Browns to Have Open QB Competition
Cleveland has Sanders, Watson, and Dillon Gabriel all under contract, and the team plans to have an open competition.
Although Sanders ended the year as the starting quarterback, new head coach Todd Monken wants to get a look at all three.
“Sure, I think it’s an open competition,” Monken said at the combine. “I don’t know why it wouldn’t be an open competition, and I don’t mean to say that harshly. But I don’t think there’s enough on film over the last couple of years one way or the other to say, ‘Boy, we have a starter at quarterback.’”
Monken, however, did share some high praise with Sanders, which could give him the upper hand of winning the job.
“I think what you see is elite playmaking ability,” Monken said at the combine. “That’s in him. You’ve seen it, we’ve seen it, you saw it in college, you saw it on tape last year. Sure there’s a ways to go, but what rookie isn’t? What first-year player doesn’t have a long way to go? I’m excited to get started with him and all of our quarterbacks and all of our players.”
Sanders threw for 1,400 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions last season.
Jenkins Calls Cleveland ‘Perfect Place to be’
After being released by the Packers, Jenkins quickly signed with the Browns as he was eager to join the franchise.
Jenkins and newly acquired Browns offensive lineman Tytus Howard have become friends, so the chance to play together was something he wanted.
“I feel like it was a perfect place for me to be, especially trying to just work on my game,” Jenkins said. “Just being able to play together again and build this offensive line and take us to where we want to go. (Howard) was very enthusiastic about us moving forward, so I was on board and we’re here now.”
Jenkins will be a key part of the Browns’ offensive line that was revamped this offseason.