Shedeur Sanders Already Running First Team Drills and Cleveland's New Regime Is Completely Different
Shedeur Sanders walked out of the Browns' first practice under Todd Monken and said something you don't hear from quarterbacks often: the entire vibe has shifted. After spending last year buried in the depth chart, Sanders is back in his familiar No. 2 jersey, splitting starting reps with Deshaun Watson, and getting first crack at the team drills. That's a massive statement about where the new regime sees him.
From Fourth String to Second on the Depth Chart
Let's be real: a year ago, Sanders was fourth in line at quarterback under Kevin Stefanski. He wore No. 12 and watched from the sideline. Now, under Monken, he's the guy getting first looks in team drills. "Coach Monken's great and all the other coaches on the staff are extremely great," Sanders said after Tuesday's practice. "They're going to understand and embrace you just as a person, and then they push you each and every day in the meeting room, on the field, in the weight room. It's a new vibe, a new energy."
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👉 Claim Your Free $10 at KalshiThat's not just talk. Sanders, the 144th overall pick in 2025, finished last season strong. He started the final seven games and went 3-4 as a starter, with wins over division rivals Pittsburgh and Cincinnati to end the year. The Browns limped to 5-12, but Sanders showed enough to earn Monken's trust immediately.
A Three-Man Battle With Real Stakes
The competition isn't just between Sanders and Watson anymore. Dillon Gabriel, a third-round pick from last year's draft, started six games as a rookie and is still in the mix. Watson, who sat out all of 2025 rehabbing from his 2024 Achilles tear, is back and ready to compete. Monken's plan is to give Sanders the most reps in team drills, but everyone's getting looks. This is a genuine quarterback battle, and the coaching staff is letting it play out on the field instead of on a depth chart.
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