When the Cleveland Browns hired new head coach Todd Monken, the conversation immediately shifted to the starting quarterback situation and the question of whether Shedeur Sanders would be the starter in 2026. While the Cleveland faithful wait impatiently for that answer, Sanders posted a single character on X Monday night: “#2.” After wearing No. 12 as a rookie (his preferred college number wasn’t available), the second-year quarterback is reclaiming the jersey number that defined him at Jackson State, Colorado, and Trinity Christian High School.
It’s more than a wardrobe or fashion statement. In the quiet weeks before the NFL’s official offseason program kicks off in April, Sanders has been preparing for Monken’s system and molding himself for what comes next.
Owner Jimmy Haslam discussed Sanders last week, saying he has been in Cleveland the better part of the winter, hitting the facility early and looking sharper physically. “His body looks better,” Haslam said. “He’s been working hard.” Haslam believes Sanders got an education on being an NFL quarterback last season and is responding appropriately.
It’s in the voluntary, pre-draft grind where the real reshaping is happening under Monken’s watchful eye.
Footwork: Less Means More
Looking back on Shedeur’s rookie season, the traits that made him a quality passer in Colorado appeared at times. The accuracy, touch to arc, movement, and confidence flashed on display. However, too much “hero ball” happened behind a leaky offensive line that allowed 23 sacks in just eight games. Hurried throws, forced steps, and bailing on relatively clean pockets remained an issue—and something Sanders has to correct if he wants to take the next step.
With Monken, the former Baltimore Ravens OC who built an entire offense around Lamar Jackson, there should be more opportunities for layered window throws that can get the ball out of Shedeur’s hands relatively quickly. This will obviously depend on how the Browns’ line holds up with all of the new faces. Monken brought Travis Switzer with him from Baltimore to implement an offense that will reward a passer with precision movement, and they are already drilling the quarterbacks on it.
This doesn’t mean they’re looking for a pocket statue. It’s simply trying to create an atmosphere where efficiency of movement offers relatable downfield options. While there’s not a lot of reporting that comes out of this time period, the little that has suggested that Sanders is taking well to what the coaching staff is pushing. By simply tightening his footwork—making sure his base is set before releasing—the already solid accuracy Sanders displays will continue to improve.
Decision-Making: Simplicity, Efficiency, and Aggression
Measuring year-to-year growth during a player’s rookie contract is how GMs shape their opinion on dedicating the most important asset a franchise has when developing the roster: time. If Shedeur wants Andrew Berry to continue investing that valued commodity in his future, he will need to show that some of what plagued him in his first year is not only correctable but something he can push out and forget. The hesitation to release, fleeing unnecessarily, and putting the ball in harm’s way through questionable decision-making—these are things that cannot accompany him into Year 2.
Monken’s track record is built on offenses that put quarterbacks in position to win with pre-snap awareness and post-snap efficiency. RPOs, play-action boots, and quick-game concepts that reduce the mental load while still attacking vertically should play into Shedeur’s skill set. The wheel doesn’t need to be reinvented for success. The Browns need to create an atmosphere around Sanders that supplies him with opportunities to limit mistakes and maximize positive results.
Insiders say the voluntary program has already emphasized pre-snap communication and half-field reads. This will help Sanders get the ball out faster, immediately limiting the need for extra steps. It’s an environment built on utilizing his arm talent quickly in each rep. That alone tips the scales toward a successful outcome more often than not.
Leadership: Stepping into the Role
Haslam’s praise wasn’t just about Shedeur’s reps. It was also about his presence. Sanders stuck around when he didn’t have to. He bought in early, and Monken—a player’s coach—is obviously going to respect the work ethic.
The jersey number change represents very little on its own, but it could also reveal something meaningful. That something could be Sanders’ desire to reclaim the top spot in the locker room among his teammates. Some in the locker room have already noticed a difference in energy. Monken has stated that Cleveland will have an open competition for the starter, but Sanders appears to be treating it like his rise is an inevitability, not a question.
With Sanders approaching this offseason like the franchise quarterback of the future, it will only heighten expectations for him in 2026. The fans in Cleveland have been waiting—praying—for a signal-caller to arrive who changes the Browns’ legacy forever.
Sanders believes he is that passer, and he is putting in the work while no one watches to prove that belief.