The Cleveland Browns are kicking off a new era under first-time head coach Todd Monken, who took the reins after Kevin Stefanski's departure. As Monken builds his vision for the team, his top priority is clear: find the right starting quarterback to lead the charge.

The headliners in this competition are veteran Deshaun Watson and second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders. But there's a dark horse emerging from the pack—rookie Taylen Green, selected with the 182nd overall pick in the 2026 draft. Green has already turned heads during Cleveland's rookie minicamp, and Monken is taking notice.

"Well, I was lucky enough to get Lamar [Jackson] a lot later in his career, so let's not ... We did some things with Lamar, but he was already further along," Monken said, per The Spun. "But you can see that with Tay. You can see from when he was at Boise to then getting with Bobby Petrino and the guys at Arkansas, he's come a long way."

Monken added, "You can see that already and there's still a next jump that he can make. ... You're not going to see as much of him because of the numbers, but I'm excited. I'm excited for him. He's a great kid and everything we've heard about him so far has been true."

For his part, Green isn't shy about what he brings to the table. When asked if any other quarterback compares to his unique blend of size and athleticism, he didn't hesitate.

"To be honest, no," Green said, per Mary Kay Cabot. "I would say of course Lamar Jackson, but he ain't 6'6". Josh Allen is close, but I'm 230. He's like 260. My dad says Randall Cunningham-ish. I really don't think there's anybody like me. Not in a like cocky way or anything, just some confidence. There's nobody that moves like me, that's as tall as me."

With Watson's experience, Sanders' potential, and Green's raw talent, the Browns' quarterback room is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing storylines of the offseason. How the competition unfolds will be fascinating to watch—and could define Cleveland's season.