Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken has offered up some lofty praise for second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders, which could impact the future of Dillon Gabriel
12:15 ET, 04 Jun 2026
Shedeur Sanders #2 of the Cleveland Browns throws a pass during a voluntary veteran minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on April 21, 2026 in Berea, Ohio.
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Quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders #2 and Dillon Gabriel #8 were both drafted by the Cleveland Browns last year(Image: Getty Images)
Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken has hinted that Dillon Gabriel is an afterthought in the team's offseason quarterback competition after praising Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders.
The NFL headlines this week have been dominated by the Browns' decision to deal superstar pass rusher Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams, with Cleveland's general manager Andrew Berry admitting it was a difficult decision for him to make.
On Monday, it was announced that Garrett would be heading to Los Angeles in exchange for a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, a 2029 third-round pick, and pass rusher Jared Verse, in a move that makes the Rams the offseason favorite to win the Super Bowl this coming season.
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While the Rams hope to be celebrating a Super Bowl win at their home, SoFi Stadium, come February, the Browns enter the 2026 season looking to build on a disappointing 5-12 campaign that led to the firing of two-time NFL Coach of the Year, Kevin Stefanski.
In Stefanski's place, Cleveland hired former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Monken, who is currently running the rule over the Browns quarterbacks. Last season, Cleveland began the year with Joe Flacco as its starter before turning to Gabriel and Sanders, who the Browns selected in the third and fifth rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Neither quarterback fully grasped their opportunity while starting for Cleveland. But a weak quarterback class in the 2026 NFL Draft saw Cleveland add just one signal caller to their quarterback room in the form of sixth-round rookie Taylen Green this offseason.
Sanders is competing with Deshaun Watson for the starting quarterback role
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Sanders is competing with Deshaun Watson for the starting quarterback role(Image: 2026 Nick Cammett)
While Cleveland has four quarterbacks on its roster right now, the competition for just who will start Week 1 of the 2026 season against the Jacksonville Jaguars looks to be between Watson, who missed all of last season due to injury, and Sanders, with Gabriel on the outside looking in.
On Wednesday, Monken spoke to reporters, admitting he was fired up because he believes Cleveland has "two starting-level quarterbacks" in Watson and Sanders. Monken said: "In a perfect world, you’d love to have your starting quarterback, right?
"I'm not sure we’ll be there, I'm just not. I think both [Watson and Sanders] quarterbacks have played well enough where we haven't really been in pads. We haven't played any games yet. Haven't really got to that point yet. Every day, I kind of lean one way or the other with quarterbacks."
He added: "I'm fired up by the quarterbacks. I just tell you, we got two starting-level quarterbacks. We really do."
To make matters worse for Gabriel, he may end up having to change numbers, too, from his preferred No. 8. Gabriel wore No. 8 at Oklahoma, Oregon, and during his rookie season with Cleveland.
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However, after being dealt to Cleveland in the trade for Garrett, new Browns pass rusher Jared Verse was spotted at OTAs wearing the No. 8 in practice.
With Gabriel looking like the odd-man out in Cleveland's four-man quarterback room, he could end up being traded or cut by the Browns later this offseason, freeing up the number for Verse.
Should Gabriel make the 53-man roster, it seems likely that Verse may have to stump up some cash to wear the No. 8 during the 2026 NFL season.