The team's 2026 starting quarterback is 'to be determined,' according to Monken
New Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken met the media on Tuesday and his availability answered one question, while leaving others to be determined over the coming weeks and months.
First, Monken does not plan to change the Browns' defensive scheme — an attack, man-heavy approach — no matter who the coach running that side of the ball is next season.
"My anticipation is we’re not going to change the system," Monken said. "[It’s] very difficult to go against. I’m not planning on changing the system. We’re built for the system that they’re in currently. I’m not going to get into staffing, because that’s not at this time to get into that. But they can be rest assured that we’re going to keep the same system. We’re still going to let them attack. We’re still going to let them play free. I can’t see any other way. They’re a big reason why I took this job — the defensive players."
That leads into the next question, which remains open.
Will Jim Schwartz be back running the defense?
The 59-year-old Schwartz has been the Browns' defensive coordinator since 2023 and remains under contract through next season. But after Monken was hired over numerous candidates, including Schwartz, it was reported that an upset Schwartz was looking to move on.
Monken praised Schwartz and the defenses that Monken faced several times a season while he was the Baltimore Ravens' offensive coordinator. But the head coach refused to comment about what the future holds for Schwartz and the Browns.
"First of all, I think Jim is an outstanding defensive coordinator — I think we all would agree with that," Monken said. "But I think it’s a little inappropriate for me to comment about that at this time."
The Browns' defense this past season, which featured five-time All-Pro and single-season sack record holder Myles Garrett, allowed the fourth-fewest total yards per game (283.6) and had the third-best passing defense with 167.2 yards allowed per game.
While who will be his defensive coordinator remains unanswered, Monken said his focus is on his players right now.
"I didn’t take this job because of Jim Schwartz," Monken said. "I have a lot of respect for Jim Schwartz, as I would hope he has for me. But I took it because of the players that are here, the ownership, Andrew Berry, and the ability to build this roster from the ground up on the offensive side.
"So, and I said this to the other guys, I didn’t think I’d say it, but I’m gonna say it — when I was preparing for the Cleveland Browns, I wasn’t trying to chip Jim Schwartz, I was chipping Myles Garrett. And when I was sliding a protection to the outside backers or Grant Delpit, they were blitzing off the edge, I was sliding the protection to the players. And when I was worried about throwing to the right against Denzel Ward or Tyson Campbell to the left, that’s who I was worried about throwing at."
Who will be the Browns' QB1?
On the offensive side of the ball, Monken, who said he will call the plays, wasn't ready to make an announcement about who will be his starting quarterback.
Last season, Dillion Gabriel played 10 games, while fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders saw action in eight games. Deshaun Watson, who missed all of the 2025 season with an Achilles injury, is expected to be part of the quarterback competition come training camp.
It will be a competition because Monken chose not to declare his QB1 in early February.
"Well, I think like any position on the team, that’s still to be determined," Monken said. "Am I excited about Shedeur? Am I excited about all the quarterbacks in the room? Am I excited to coach this football team? Absolutely. I can’t wait for them to get back and for us to get started."
Sanders threw for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions with a 68.1 quarterback rating in his first season in Cleveland. That came after the Ravens expressed interest in drafting him, but the quarterback did not want to have to sit behind Lamar Jackson and not have an opportunity to play — something Monken reminded Sanders about when the two met last week for the first time.
At the Pro Bowl this week, Sanders said he was excited to begin working with Monken after seeing what he was able to do with the Ravens.
"I feel like we definitely have a connection just from talking to him, just seeing his vibe," Sanders said. "He has a great vibe about him."
Category: General Sports
