The Cleveland Browns have officially finalized a move that everyone in the fanbase was dreading, as head coach Todd Monken named Deshaun Watson as the starting quarterback and Shedeur Sanders as the primary backup.
While neither quarterback was lighting it up in practice or the preseason, Watson being named the starter after getting booed mercilessly by fans and looking out of sorts on the field was a bit of a shock. Considering how the race unfolded, it seems like Monken had his thumb on the scale for Watson at Sanders' expense this whole time.
Based on comments from quarterbacks coach Mike Bajakian and Monken's unwillingness to let Sanders earn a lion's share of the first-team reps, it seems like Monken wanted a veteran quarterback instead of a young player, irrespective of the names on the backs of the jersey or the context surrounding them. That has now led to Watson, who the owner has admitted was a mistake, starting in Week 1.
Todd Monken may have wanted veteran Deshaun Watson over Shedeur Sanders
On one hand, leaning on a veteran makes sense. Monken's vertical offense can be very complex and difficult to learn, and an offensive coach likely doesn't want to spend most of his debut season explaining his scheme to a young player who may not be under center for very long. However, this puts the idea of a meritocracy into question.
Watson has not played well enough to warrant a starting job, as his humiliation at the hands of the Buffalo Bills' backups in his most recent preseason outing should have been enough to push Sanders back into QB1 consideration.
Watson supporters (if any would dare assign that title to themselves) would say that picking Sanders over Watson based on fanbase reception would also go against the directive to play the best players, but that ignores that Sanders is an ascending young player, while Watson's value is in the dirt.
Todd Monken and the Cleveland Browns may draft a Deshaun Watson replacement
The irony of this competition is the likelihood that Cleveland is going to use one of their top picks in the 2027 NFL Draft on a quarterback who will push Watson and/or Sanders aside. Monken could have taken the easy victory to begin his career as a Browns coach, but he seemingly values experience more than competence or good PR.
Monken needed to come in and show that he is different than the numerous other coaches who have been swallowed up by the daunting prospect of winning with this franchise. Instead, he seems to have stepped on a proverbial landmine and already turned the fan base against him in the name of leaning on an experienced veteran.
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