Verse arrived as part of a blockbuster trade the Rams did with the Browns to acquire Myles Garrett. He used to wear number eight on the Rams, and he decided to keep that number, despite it being already issued to QB Dillon Gabriel.

Gabriel played six games in 2025 as a rookie. However, he lost his starting spot to Shedeur Sanders in the second half of the season. Now, he is behind Sanders and Deshaun Watson in the Browns’ QB battle.

Who is the Browns’ No. 8?

As of now, both Verse and Gabriel are wearing that jersey number. Teams have some freedom to double up on jersey numbers during the 90-man portion of the calendar. Once, the roster is cut to the final 53 men, only one can have it. Now, it remains to be seen if Gabriel will be on that final roster. If he doesn’t, No. 8 will be Verse’s number.

The ironic part in all of this, is that the Browns are the ones in charge of the numbers. They could just reclaim and reissue the number to Verse if they want. Still, at least for now, they’ll live with two No. 8’s on the team.

Is Myles Garrett using No. 95 on the Rams?

Yes, Myles Garrett will continue to use his mythical No. 95 jersey on the Rams. However, Garrett did buy his jersey number for an undisclosed fee from Poona Ford. Garrett took a much more traditional approach.

Also, that might have been because Ford is really likely to stay on the 53-man roster. When speaking on the matter, Garrett said it took “more than a couple” of bucks for Ford to give him the No. 95.

“I mean, my whole life since high school, I haven’t really had a stable quarterback,” Boston said on The Insiders. “So I’m used to having different quarterbacks throwing to me each and every year. So, you know, it doesn’t affect me too much.“

Although Todd Monken recently stated that “nothing’s changed” regarding the idea of alternating snaps between both players, sooner or later he will have to make a decision. Meanwhile, Boston is prepared to play with either of them.

“You know, I’m not really paying attention to what reps are with who, you know, I’ll just go out there and just try to produce for whoever pass me the ball,“ the WR also added. “You know, I think Dillon (Gabriel), I think Shedeur, and I also think, you know, Deshaun Watson have all put on a great show. And so far in OTAs, you know, that decision has nothing to do with me. I just go out there and ball, make plays for them.”

Sanders or Watson: The decision the HC must make

Todd Monken faces a massive, franchise-altering decision at quarterback, caught between a high-priced veteran and a highly capable sophomore. On one hand, Deshaun Watson is working his way back after a devastating re-ruptured Achilles tendon in early 2025 sidelined him for the entire season.

On the other hand, Shedeur Sanders flashed a high-upside potential across 8 games and 7 starts, throwing for 1,400 passing yards, 7 touchdowns, and adding a rushing score. While his rookie year came with typical growing pains—including 10 interceptions and a 56.6% completion rate—his peak was undeniable.

Now, Monken must decide whether to hand the keys back to a heavily compensated Watson or trust the future of the offense to his young, dynamic playmaker.

The Browns still have time to make some tests

The Cleveland Browns are currently navigating their 2026 offseason schedule, holding their OTA workouts from May 19–21, May 26–28, and wrapping up on June 2–5, right before mandatory minicamp kicks off on June 9.

While the NFL has not yet announced the official start date for training camp, the team is slated to report to the Cross Country Mortgage Campus in Berea in mid-to-late July to officially begin their summer prep.

“For all that we talk about Deshun Watson, what he hadn’t been, what he was was pretty special,” the former ProBowler said on ESPN’s Get Up. “Three-time Pro Bowler. At one point, people were making the argument, ‘Would he be better on Kansas City than Patrick Mahomes?’

“I know that’s laughable now, but the kid is only 30 years old. You can’t tell me that somebody’s career and football life is over at 30 when you talk about quarterbacks playing to 40.”

His serious injuries and off-the-field issues could be reasons why Watson may no longer be the player he once was. However, there are plenty of examples of players over 30 continuing to perform at an elite level, and in the Dawg Pound they believe he could become one of those cases.

Watson or Sanders: Monken’s biggest question mark

The quarterback battle for the Cleveland Browns leaves Head Coach Todd Monken with a complex dilemma heading into Week 1. On one hand, Shedeur Sanders is coming off an intriguing 2025 NFL season where he appeared in 8 games (7 starts), throwing for 1,400 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, resulting in a low passer rating of 68.1 and an 18.9 QBR while dealing with heavy defensive pressure.

On the other hand, Deshaun Watson brings veteran experience to the table, having recorded 1,148 passing yards, 5 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions in his 7 appearances before his season ending injury.

Monken will have to weigh whether to prioritize Sanders’ long-term development and high ceiling despite his rookie struggles, or opt for the stability of a healthy Watson to command the offense from the very first snap.

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.

Speaking on 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland, Monken dismissed Shilo Sanders altogether. “That’s a man making a comment on social media,” Monken said. “That’s someone reporting something they believe. It’s their opinion. Fine, I’m — not my opinion, I didn’t say that.”

Reporter Mary Kay Cabot stated that the Browns “should declare [Watson] QB1 asap and let the 1st team offense start to cook. There’s no time to waste.” To that, Shilo Sanders responded “Go make a sandwich Mary.” He faced backlash for being misogynistic.

Monken is not naming a starting QB yet

While Monken has revealed the final decision between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders is still up in the air, he knows a decision must be coming soon. Monken also dismissed the report, and he is focused on working furthermore.

Monken comes from the Baltimore Ravens, which means he is not used to having QB battles, he is used to having a superstar under center. Now, it’s a whole change of scenario for him.

The Browns will provide good weapons for the starting QB

There’s a pre-draft receiving corps, and a post-draft receiving corps for the Browns. Thankfully for either Shedeur Sanders or Deshaun Watson, the Browns now have solid weapons.

• WR- Jerry Jeudy
• WR- KC Concepcion
• WR- Denzel Boston
• WR- Cedric Tillman
• TE- Harold Fannin Jr.
• RB- Quinshon Judkins

After a report stated that Shedeur Sanders is trailing Deshaun Watson in the Browns QB battle, the head coach went on and say “I’m not there yet, so I can’t say that… What I’ve seen after three days, that gives us a 40,000-foot view of where we’re at. There’s only so many reps you get, you’ve got to start to target towards who is gonna start opening day. That can still change.”

Hence, the reports might indicate who’s leading the competition, but not precisely that the decision is made. After all, nailing your starting quarterback is the first step towards success.

Deshaun Watson vs Shedeur Sanders

The Browns don’t have elite talent on their quarterback depth chart. Watson and Sanders both have under 60% completion. However, Watson has less turnovers in 12 games more with the Browns than Sanders.

On the other hand, Sanders averages one touchdown per game, more than Watson. Both are controversial figures that don’t return elite production, but one of them must start either way.

The Browns have to be competent on offense, as they are elite on defense

The Browns defense is arguably the best in the NFL. Hence, the team doesn’t even need to put 30 points per game, the defense just need the offense to not be one of the league’s worse.

In 2025, the Browns were the fourth-best total defense in the NFL. Hence, it’s just natural that they will continue their path of dominance, as most players remained with the team. If the offense is functional, the Browns can win plenty of games.

Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported that the former Houston Texans quarterback came out of minicamp with a better chance of being the QB1 for Todd Monken. Most of the snaps with the first team went to Watson, a clear indication of the direction the franchise is heading in this new era.

Sanders, for his part, will need to step up his efforts to compete for the spot. Behind him, Dillon Gabriel is still in the mix, along with recently drafted 6th-round pick No. 182 Taylen Green.

Watson as the starter for the Browns

Deshaun Watson’s last start at the Dawg Pound took place on October 20, 2024, against the Cincinnati Bengals, a game that ended abruptly when he suffered a season-ending torn Achilles. Before the injury, he completed 15 of 17 passes for 128 yards, recording a solid 88.2% completion rate but failing to find the end zone.

If Watson is confirmed as the starter, he will be tasked with leading one of the youngest offensive units in the league. Following a 2026 Draft where Cleveland selected eight offensive players—including high-profile rookies like wide receiver Denzel Boston (22) and tackle Spencer Fano (21)—Watson must provide veteran stability for a roster teeming with inexperienced talent.

With young stars like Harold Fannin Jr. and Cedric Tillman taking on larger roles, the pressure will be on Watson to “carry” this revamped group and prove he can still execute at an elite level after his lengthy recovery.

Andrew Berry’s support for Shedeur

Despite the parity that currently exists in the Cleveland Browns’ QB room, Shedeur Sanders will clearly need to further elevate his abilities if he wants to earn the starting job. Andrew Berry hopes that in his second season in the NFL, he can continue learning and refining his game to achieve strong results.

“To take another step and keep growing and learning. I think he’s had a really nice offseason. He did a really nice job at voluntary minicamp,“ the GM said during a conversation with Tony Rizzo.

“I think his improvements in decision making and pocket management by the end of the year and certainly what we’ve seen so far in a very short spring have been positive. And I expect him to have more command of the offense and better ball security and situational awareness as we go into Year 2.”

“You know, I think I’m just running my own race and focused on what I can control, and that’s mastering my reps and doing it a high level,” Gabriel said, via Cleveland.com.

The former Oregon Ducks player had the opportunity to be a starter in a few games, although injuries eventually kept him off the field. “Just learning, you know, a bunch of learning. I think even prior I was able to learn from Joe (Flacco), but even in that towards the end of the season, I think you just have opportunities for growth and learning, kind of take a step back after playing and continue to apply to get better.”

A new era is coming to the Dawg Pound following Kevin Stefanski’s departure. Will the Browns finally be able to enter the ranks of AFC North contenders?

Gabriel wants to reclaim a starting role

Concussions played a major role in Dillon Gabriel’s rookie season going off track. Looking ahead, the left-hander will look to reclaim his place again, as he acknowledges it was far from easy to be forced out of the first team due to those circumstances.

“Yeah, I don’t think it’s ever easy, as a competitor, right? But you just want to keep staying the course, trust in God’s plan and then ultimately you got to run your own race and focus on your goals.”

While he was healthy for his team, Gabriel recorded 937 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. He finished his first campaign in Cleveland with a QBR of 31.4.

Shedeur or Watson as the starter?

Todd Monken faces a franchise-altering decision as he evaluates whether to start the veteran Deshaun Watson or the rising Shedeur Sanders for Week 1. Watson is returning from a grueling recovery process following a re-rupture of his right Achilles, an injury that sidelined him for the entire 2025 campaign and casts doubt on his explosive playmaking ability.

In contrast, Sanders is coming off a productive rookie season where he threw for 1,400 yards and 7 touchdowns in limited action, showing enough poise to earn a Pro Bowl nod. Monken must now decide if Sanders’ high-upside rhythm outweighs the risk of starting a veteran whose physical durability remains the team’s biggest question mark.

Will the Browns go after another QB in the next Draft?

The Cleveland Browns are positioned as major power players in the 2026 NFL Draft with nine total picks, highlighted by two first-round selections at No. 6 and No. 24 overall. While the roster already includes a crowded quarterback room, speculation remains high that Andrew Berry could still target a high-ceiling signal-caller like Ty Simpson if he falls to their second Day 1 pick.

However, many analysts expect the Browns to prioritize elite protection for their current passers, potentially using their top-10 capital on a blue-chip offensive tackle like Spencer Fano or Monroe Freeling to solidify the unit for whoever wins the Week 1 starting job.

• Round 1: Pick 6
• Round 1: Pick 24 (via Jaguars)
• Round 2: Pick 39
• Round 3: Pick 70
• Round 4: Pick 107
• Round 5: Pick 146
• Round 5: Pick 149 (via Bengals)
• Round 6: Pick 206
• Round 7: Pick 248 (via Seahawks)

Speaking to the press, Monken said he is aware of the team’s reputation and knows how to change it. “Winning. It changes everything,” Monken said. “I told the coaches that the other day, right? How does a player stop the narrative? Play well. How do we stop the narrative on offense? Score. How do you stop the narrative of winning? Win. It’s pretty freaking simple.”

Monken is trying to do the impossible with the Browns. No coach since Marty Schottenheimer has ended his Browns tenure with a winning record. And that happened in 1988. It’s been a long time since winning days have been a part of the Browns.

However, it all starts with the QB

Winning in the NFL is very hard. Winning without a franchise quarterback is next to impossible. Shedeur Sanders showed glimpses of talent during his rookie year, but he didn’t show a finished product yet.

As for Deshaun Watson, he was a top five QB in the NFL… back in 2018. The 2020s have not seen a good version of Watson, who has struggled with serious injuries and off-field issues that really hampered what was a very promising career.

The Browns still have a unit to rely on

The Browns might have not many things to brag about on offense, but it does have an elite defensive unit with one of the most unstoppable forces in the NFL, Myles Garrett. With them, the fact is that the offense has to be merely decent-to-good, not even elite.

Tyson Campbell played 12 games for the Browns last season, but then also played five games for the Jaguars. Hence, he knew Jim Schwartz, but now that he is back with the Browns, he’s been impressed by Mike Rutenberg.

“Rudy, off rip, he brings a lot of energy, a lot of passion. And that’s what you want out of a D-coordinator, a guy that brings a lot of energy and passion to the group and all about team camaraderie,” Campbell said to Cleveland.com.

How is the QB battle going?

Sanders is the frontrunner to be quarterback to some reports. However, it’s also been speculated that Deshaun Watson should be the man that earns the starting spot. However, Watson hasn’t played in quite some while due to serious injuries to his knee and Achilles.

Having said that, Shedeur Sanders wasn’t incredible during his rookie year to just grant him the QB1. However, he showed glimpses and the ability to create big plays. Hence, that’s the focus of the team right now. Thankfully, the defense is apparently not an issue.

The Browns defense is the unit the teams rely on

Campbell, Denzel Ward, and Grant Delpit are in charge of the secondary. Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, Defensive Rookie of the Year Carson Schwesinger, and newly-arrived Quincy Williams will take the load in the trenches.

With that, they just need a half-decent offense to win football games. Whether Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders are capable to be the ones to make this unit competent remains to be seen. Still, those are the Browns’ hopes.