Cleveland Browns first-year head coach Todd Monken confirmed that quarterback reps during the offseason workout program, beginning April 7, will not necessarily be distributed equally among the contenders. The competition involves Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson, and Dillon Gabriel as the team assesses its options under the new leadership structure.

Monken suggested the initial distribution will lean on past performance, referencing what the staff observed as the previous season concluded, though he sidestepped guaranteeing Sanders the majority of first-team snaps. Sanders finished 3-4 in his seven starts last year, posting a QBR of 18.9, which ranked near the bottom of qualified passers since 2006.

Deshaun Watson, who missed all of 2025 due to an Achilles tear sustained in October 2024, remains a factor despite his high-cost contract; he has only appeared in 19 games since the Browns committed $230 million guaranteed to him in 2022. Gabriel, meanwhile, started six games as a rookie before a concussion forced him out, opening the door for Sanders.

While Monken hopes to establish a preliminary depth chart by the spring's conclusion, he stressed that the competition itself will not cease simply because reps become more balanced later in the process. The evaluation period will determine who emerges from this crowded field to lead the offense under the new regime, with Shedeur Sanders and Watson being the main focus.