According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Deshaun Watson “believes he isn’t against staying in Cleveland beyond 2026 if things go well.” If the Browns opt to release Watson next year as a post-June 1 cut, they would have to swallow the second-largest salary cap hit in NFL history ($86.2 million).

Now, they could still do it as it would spread over 2027 and 2028, but if things go well, they still have to pay so might as well pay him while he is delivering on the field. Having said that, Todd Monken says nothing has changed in Browns QB battle between Watson and Sanders.

Monken has been critical of the Browns QBs so far

During a Wednesday media appearance, Monken was visibly bothered that his quarterbacks threw interceptions while making 7-on-7 drills, noting that it’s unacceptable due to having no pass-rush. He was not in the mood for discussing the QB battle.

Monken is in his first job as head coach. Still, he has worked in recent years with none other than Baltimore Ravens star QB Lamar Jackson. Hence, he will suffer a downgrade in the position no matter what. Monken’s mission is to make it work with the Browns, but the QBs available are his first roadblocks.

Cleveland has given its QBs all the help possible

By drafting an offensive lineman, and two of the best wideouts in the NFL Draft, the offense could look incredibly different. KC Concepcion could be a volume receiver, while Denzel Boston could serve as a certified deep threat.

In a recent conversation with the media, Monken said that “nothing’s changed” regarding his approach to selecting a starting quarterback. However, he did reveal that Sanders has made notable progress during this period, while also noting that Watson looks physically improved as well.

“I think Shedeur has come miles in terms of his progressions, getting the ball out, his understanding of concepts…,” the head coach said. The only certainty at the moment is that neither of them has secured the starting job ahead of the season opener.

The Dawg Pound QB room also includes two other names who currently sit a bit further down the depth chart. The first is Dillon Gabriel, who, like Shedeur, will also be entering his second NFL season, and the recently drafted Taylen Green, who comes from the Boise State Broncos.

Sanders looks to improve his numbers, Watson to stay healthy

During his 2025 rookie campaign with the Browns, Shedeur Sanders stepped into the fire to start seven games, throwing for 1,400 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions with a 56.6% completion percentage. Sanders will look to clean up his decision-making and cut down on costly turnovers under Todd Monken’s new system.

On the other hand, Deshaun Watson has been sidelined since suffering a torn Achilles against the Cincinnati Bengals in October 2024. He is now back on the practice field for 2026, highly motivated to stay healthy and reclaim his role as QB1.

Monken aims to bring the Browns back into contention

Following his appointment as head coach in early 2026, Todd Monken aims to steer the Cleveland Browns back to the postseason for the first time since their wildcard exit in the 2023 season. To break this drought, Monken will install his signature offensive philosophy: an adaptable and innovative system built on explosive chunk plays, and an aggressive vertical passing attack.

Navigating the brutal AFC North gridlock will be his ultimate test, requiring tactical chess matches against three formidable divisional rivals. He will have to counter Mike McCarthy’s physical Pittsburgh Steelers, out-duel the Cincinnati Bengals, and exploit his intimate, inside knowledge of Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens—his former team—to survive the NFL’s most unforgiving division and secure a playoff berth.

The start of a new dream for Cleveland

The Todd Monken era is locked and loaded, and the Browns are kicking things off with a pretty wild little warm-weather gauntlet. They’ll start the season in Week 1 by heading down to Florida to clash with the Jacksonville Jaguars, followed immediately by another road trip to the Sunshine State in Week 2 to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

After dealing with this two difficult games, they finally get to head back north for the Week 3 home opener at Huntington Bank Field, where they’ll welcome the Carolina Panthers.

The Hall of Famer made it clear he believes Cleveland is building something special. “Look at that rookie class last season. The rookie class this season, who I know they haven’t played, they haven’t put it on grass. But they’re building something that is tremendous and they’re not too far away. Of course, they need stability at the quarterback position. Of course, they need stability on the offensive line. Everything else, to me, they got it.”

Those comments immediately raise the biggest question for the Browns entering 2026: will that quarterback stability come from Shedeur Sanders or could Todd Monken ultimately prefer veteran Deshaun Watson?

2026 Browns draft rookie class

The Browns opened their 2026 NFL Draft by selecting offensive tackle Spencer Fano from Utah with the No. 9 overall pick, immediately reinforcing one of the biggest weaknesses on the roster. Later in the first round, Cleveland added explosive wide receiver KC Concepcion out of Texas A&M, giving the offense another dynamic weapon. That’s the talent Deion’s talking about.

On Day 2, they drafted Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston and Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. Boston brings size and playmaking ability to the receiving corps, while McNeil-Warren adds athleticism and depth to the secondary.

The Browns then doubled down on protecting the quarterback by selecting Florida offensive tackle Austin Barber and Alabama center Parker Brailsford. They also added Alabama linebacker Justin Jefferson and Cincinnati tight end Joe Royer.

Later in the draft, the front office selected Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green, an intriguing developmental prospect with major athletic upside, and closed the class by drafting BYU tight end Carsen Ryan.

“You got a GM that I adore. I really do, I think he gets it bad because he’s a brother for one. Secondly, because they hadn’t won, but you got to understand most of the time the GMs and the head coaches are married together. Mr. Berry, he’s done a phenomenal job acquiring talent.”

The comments are especially interesting because Berry was ultimately the executive who selected Shedeur Sanders during the 2025 NFL Draft. At the same time, Deion’s words indirectly continue pointing toward former head coach Kevin Stefanski as one of the reasons his son struggled to fully develop during his rookie season before Stefanski eventually departed for Atlanta.

Deion Sanders may become more involved in Shedeur Sanders’ development

Now, Andrew Berry is leading a new era in Cleveland alongside head coach Todd Monken without the same level of internal tension surrounding personnel decisions. Deion Sanders has already openly stated that he plans to meet with Monken personally to discuss how to maximize Shedeur’s development moving forward.

However, the quarterback situation inside the Browns organization is suddenly becoming much more complicated. Even though Shedeur finished the 2025 season as Cleveland’s starter, Deshaun Watson has re-entered the equation and there are no guarantees Shedeur will keep the QB1 job entering training camp.

That uncertainty could push Deion to become even more involved behind the scenes. Sanders also mentioned that when the Jacksonville Jaguars drafted Travis Hunter, nobody from the organization reached out to him for insight or collaboration. This time, he appears determined to play a larger role helping his son navigate the NFL.

The big question, however, is whether that level of involvement will ultimately help or hurt Shedeur’s development. While Deion’s football knowledge and experience are undeniable, increased parental influence around a young quarterback can sometimes create additional pressure inside an NFL locker room already filled with competition and scrutiny.

During an interview on “The Barbershop,” Deion revealed how painful it was to witness everything Shedeur went through during the 2025 season. “When he takes off his shirt, I see the scars on his back that he’s been through hell, but he’s made it through hell. He kept going and he matured. Not like he was a child, but he matured spiritually. You can’t force this. If it ain’t your time, it ain’t your time.”

The Hall of Famer also addressed the criticism and rumors surrounding Shedeur before the 2025 NFL Draft, narratives that contributed to the quarterback’s shocking slide all the way into the fifth round.

“It was some ignorant things came out about him predraft and all that. That was a lie. Like, he would never go into a meeting with headphones on. He would never go into a meeting unprepared. Like, that’s just not who he is. There’s no way he could accomplish the things he accomplished without being prepared. A lot of things that was said, it bothered me, but it didn’t bother him. He just wanted the opportunity to get on the grass and do his thing.”

Deion Sanders sends clear message to Todd Monken about Shedeur Sanders

Despite the difficult beginning to Shedeur’s NFL career, Deion Sanders now appears optimistic about the quarterback’s future following the Browns’ coaching change.

After Kevin Stefanski’s departure, Cleveland moved forward with Todd Monken as head coach, a development that has clearly energized Deion. “I love it, because Todd is a straight shooter. He keeps it a buck. I want to meet him because I think it’s vital that as a coach, not the dad, I can tell him a few things about Shedeur. How to get him going. That wasn’t asked of me a year ago. I don’t understand it. So, I anticipate that , and I can’t wait to have that conversation with Coach Monken.”

The comments suggest Deion believes Shedeur could finally receive the kind of coaching environment that allows him to fully rebuild confidence and develop at the NFL level.

After surviving a brutal rookie year filled with criticism, physical punishment, and constant scrutiny, the Sanders family appears hopeful that a fresh start under Monken could completely change the trajectory of Shedeur’s career.

This means that, for a second-straight season, the Browns will have to look at other names to play linebacker. Koramoah was a high-volume tackler, and an above average player in coverage for his position.

However, the Browns didn’t miss him last season, and it seems like they won’t miss him in 2026. The Browns had the Defensive Rookie of the Year Carson Schwesinger play in JOK’s position and he was a star from the get-go.

Who are the other linebackers on the Browns?

The Browns brought Quincy Williams to the roster. He is a tackling machine. They could also use rookie Justin Jefferson, Winston Reid, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, Nathaniel Watson, Edefuan Ulofoshio.

While Owusu-Koramoah could perfectly be among the top of this depth chart, the fact is the Browns have managed to play without him and not lose any level. This allows JOK to focus on his recovery, given that he suffered a career-threatening injury.

The latest on Owusu-Koramoah’s injury

Owusu-Koramoah’s last game was in October, 2024. He spent a night in the hospital after suffering a hit from running back Derrick Henry that caused his neck to compress. While he never lost mobility in any of his limbs, there is still a concern on the damage that his spinal area might have suffered.

Back in February, Browns general manager Andrew Berry said he was not “overly optimistic” in JOK’s status for this season. Now that he was placed on the PUP list, it’s safe to say Berry was right. Owusu-Koramoah is studying to get a Masters degree in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Spencer Fano signed a four-year deal with $32.2 million value. The contract is fully guaranteed and he will get a $19.9 million signing bonus. He was the ninth pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Browns hope he can be a key component in the offensive line.

The Browns also signed seven draft picks and 12 unsigned draft picks, including wideout Denzel Boston, who is a high-upside rookie. Hence, the Browns are rejuvenating heavily thanks to their draft capital and rookie minicamps.

KC Koncepcion remains unsigned

First-round WR KC Concepcion and second-round safety Emmaneul McNeil-Warren are the only Browns rookies that haven’t signed their rookie deals. This is likely due to minor contract negotiations regarding guarantees or details like that.

Concepcion is expected to be a key piece for Todd Monken’s offense. After all, a team doesn’t draft a wideout in the first round to not give him plenty of looks. It is just a matter of time before he signs his rookie deal.

The Browns are a young-focused team

The Browns 2026 draft class has an average of 22.2 years of age. This puts them as the fourth-youngest team in the NFL for the 2026 season. The youngest team is the Miami Dolphins, followed by the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Tennessee Titans.

The team is focused on having more athleticism and explosion, instead of experience. It still has veteran players, but the core of the team is more on the young side, as numbers tell.

By placing him on the PUP list at this point of the year, it means Owusu-Koramoah will not make the 90-man roster, and prohibits the Browns from activating him at any point in this season.

Owusu-Koramoah hasn’t played a snap since October 24th, when he suffered a neck injury. In February, the reports stated that the linebacker might never play football again. Hence, this move all but made that statement grow in credibility.

Owusu-Koramoah was a very talented player

A Pro Bowler in 2023, Owusu-Koramoah has 308 career-tackles, eight sacks, three interceptions, six forced fumbles, and 14 quarterback hits. He is just 26 years old, but his injury has corrupted what was once thought as a very promising career.

While the Browns have still kept a great defense without Koramoah, he is still a player that if healthy, could really be impactful. Of course, the priority is mainly his health and well-being.

What is exactly Owusu-Koramoah’s injury?

His injury came after running back Derrick Henry collided with him at full-speed. The hit caused his neck to compress and his head to snap back violently. This also puts his spinal area in jeopardy. Hence, his movement could very well be damaged if he returns without proper clearance.

“Sorsby’s name hasn’t been in the conversation,” Peter Schrager stated on The Pat McAfee Show. “I’m told that the Browns are focused on Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders right now. They are so ecstatic about their draft.”

Even though Sorsby is a name to watch and Cleveland has long been rumored as a destination for virtually every available quarterback in the NFL, perhaps the tide has changed. With Monken at the helm, the Browns may finally be on the verge of finding stability. The league’s most beleaguered franchise could certainly use some calmer days for a change.

Why Sorsby could become available

It’s one of the biggest storylines in the league following the 2026 NFL Draft. After transferring from Cincinnati to Texas Tech, Sorsby was expected to become the starting quarterback in Lubbock. However, he could instead lose his eligibility after an NCAA investigation reportedly uncovered multiple bets placed by Sorsby—including several on Indiana Hoosiers games back in 2023, when he was still in Bloomington.

The NCAA prohibits student-athletes from betting on any NCAA-sanctioned sport. In cases where athletes wager on their own teams, permanent ineligibility becomes a very real possibility. As a result, Sorsby could be banned from ever playing college football again.

The NFL supplemental draft—which is held exclusively for players who lose their eligibility after the original draft—appears to be the safest route for Sorsby, who has reportedly entered a rehabilitation facility. However, even if he enters the supplemental draft and is selected by a team, most analysts believe the NFL would hand down a suspension of its own to the 22-year-old quarterback.

Will Sorsby enter the supplemental draft?

As things stand, Sorsby has yet to announce his decision, and he has until June 30 to do so. If he does declare and is indeed selected, Sorsby would be the first player to come out of the supplemental draft since safety Jalen Thompson was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in 2019.

In the grand scheme of things, whether he enters the NFL supplemental draft or not feels like a minor detail. Considering a gambling addiction is reportedly involved—and that Sorsby is now receiving treatment—it puts everything into perspective.

Still, from a football standpoint, several teams may show interest in him. However, for once, the Browns seem uninterested in acquiring yet another signal-caller. Cleveland seems content with a QB1 competition between Sanders and Watson and believes it is set with Dillon Gabriel and rookie Taylen Green rounding out the quarterback room in The Land.

According to Henry McKenna of Fox Sports, the Browns’ many issues regarding roster construction, salary cap issues, and not having a starting quarterback established might make the owners take big-time decisions.

“That’s right, they could both get fired,” said McKenna. He was referring to both Berry and Monken. The reason for it would be the Browns could be eyeing a high pick for the 2027 NFL Draft already.

Why should Monken be fired because of this?

It might sound unfair, as Monken is trying to deal with a bad hand. In fact, all the salary cap issues, and roster construction as a whole falls into Berry’s responsibilities. So why would the Browns even consider firing Monken?

Well, Monken is a first-time NFL head coach, which means he knows losing games won’t do much for his stock. That contradicts the Browns’ objective of getting high picks. Hence, Monken’s spot on the team could also come into question.

Browns made quite a lot of moves constructing the roster

The Browns needed offensive line and wide receivers, and while they don’t have much money to work with, they reinforced the roster in those areas in the 2026 NFL Draft. They brought Spencer Fano at O-line, and WRs KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston.

Following a quick exit from the 2025 playoffs, the Chargers decided to make a major change to the offense. The club hired Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator, a move that will have a direct impact on Justin Herbert.

Nevertheless, hiring a new OC is not the only move they have made to improve the offense. The club has been adding new weapons to help the quarterback, and a new one may arrive soon.

Report: David Njoku to meet with the Chargers

After the 2025 season, the Cleveland Browns did not sign David Njoku to a new contract. He is now a highly sought-after free agent, and the Chargers are well aware of his value.

According to Ian Rapoport, David Njoku will visit the Chargers on Monday. He is a seasoned tight end who had a decent tenure with the Browns, who dealt with significant instability at quarterback during his nine-year stay in Cleveland.

Njoku has amassed 4,062 yards and 34 touchdowns during his career. He would have to compete against second-year tight end Oronde Gadsden II for the starter role if he joins Los Angeles.