Browns QB competition might already be down to Shedeur Sanders and one other player originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Cleveland Browns had their first day of offseason minicamp on Tuesday, April 21st. While it's still far too early to tell who the starting quarterback will be, it's the first real look the Browns are getting at their options.
Todd Monken, the new head coach, got to see all three of the quarterbacks get some run on day one. But there is seemingly already a two-headed race for the starting job. One of the three possible starters looks to be on the outside looking in for the Week 1 starter.
As Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports from Browns minicamp, Monken hinted at who the two competing for the starting job will be, with Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson being the two clearly favored by Monken, and Dillon Gabriel firmly in third.
"We were just rotating who was first reps. Shedeur to start, there were some other reps... The way it was going to turn out, Shedeur was going to get more reps..." Monken said. "It was set up in a way to get a look at all of them, the plan was for Shedeur to get a few more reps, but to let Deshaun and Shedeur both get reps with the ones."
#Browns Todd Monken on the quarterbacks in minicamp today: pic.twitter.com/zjIYOvpDuD
This is a fascinating update from Monken for a few reasons. He's willingly admitting that the plan was for Sanders to get more reps, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's the starter in Week 1.
Watson was also getting reps with the starters on offense during this fist day of offseason minicamp, which indicates he too has a chance to earn the starting job come Week 1.
More: Todd Monken reveals QB plan for Browns thats good news for Shedeur Sanders
But Monken not mentioning Gabriel by name as someone he and the team planned to get reps with the starters seemingly points to the 2025 third-round QB not joining the starting competition this year.
Cleveland's starting QB job is one to watch this offseason closely and in the build-up to the preseason and regular season. But, for now, it seems likely that it's a Sanders vs. Watson competition, with Gabriel firmly on the outside looking in.
While things can obviously change this offseason, the two most likely starters for the Browns will be Watson or Sanders come Week 1. It's not that big of a surprise, with the lefty quarterback not having the upside of either righty QB on the roster.
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