No starter named, young receivers pop, defense rebuilds: five things learned from Browns OTAs
Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders split first-team reps without resolution, a rebuilt offensive line settled into place, and new head coach Todd Monken made his standards unmistakably clear.
Cleveland wrapped up OTAs without naming a starting quarterback, without resolving its defensive identity, and without any shortage of intrigue. Deshaun Watson is back throwing after his second Achilles surgery. Shedeur Sanders is trying to outwork a nine-year starter for the job. And first-year head coach Todd Monken is running a program that leaves no room for error on either side of the ball.
Is the Watson-Sanders quarterback competition actually real?
Yes, and Monken is not pretending otherwise. Watson and Sanders split first-team reps throughout OTAs, and the head coach declined to name a starter, saying he wants to see both quarterbacks in padded practices and game situations before making a call. Watson has looked sharper throwing downfield than he did in the months before his October 2024 Achilles rupture - the second surgery appears to have cleared what the first could not. At his first public appearance since that procedure, Watson said he was eager to compete and brushed aside owner Jimmy Haslam's widely circulated "swing and miss" characterization of the original deal. Sanders, for his part, has shown improved footwork and quicker decisions operating in Monken's system. Nothing is settled.
What is the wide receiver room actually offering?
More than expected this early. Drafted receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston both made impressions during OTAs - Concepcion with his quickness off the line, Boston with his ability to win in contested situations. General manager Andrew Berry noted that the way the two rookies have hit the ground running has been impressive. Second-year wideout Isaiah Bond, who added 15 pounds of muscle in the offseason, emerged as a legitimate deep threat and a weapon in the middle of the field. The receiver group is not yet proven against live competition, but the ceiling rose during the spring.
How settled is the rebuilt offensive line?
Four of the five spots look locked in. Right tackle Tytus Howard, left guard Zion Johnson, and left tackle Spencer Fano - the ninth overall pick in the draft - each established themselves in their roles, and Elgton Jenkins added versatility that allows Cleveland to flex him between guard and center depending on what the depth requires. The Browns lost a foundational piece when Joel Bitonio retired this offseason, and the trade that sent Myles Garrett to the Rams for Jared Verse and draft picks reshaped the roster's character. The new offensive line is not yet tested under fire, but the personnel is in place. Cleveland was still rotating candidates at center and right guard to find the final fits.
How is the defense adjusting after losing Myles Garrett?
It is a work in progress, and the spring did not make it look simpler. Defensive linemen Maliek Collins and Mason Graham were both absent from OTAs due to injuries. Cornerback Denzel Ward and safety Grant Delpit did not participate in mandatory minicamp. Jared Verse, the centerpiece of the Garrett return, integrated quickly and gave the staff reasons for optimism, but replacing Garrett's production and presence in the locker room are two different problems. New defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg drew notice for his energy with the group. Monken observed that Rutenberg's energy pops and that the players feed off it - which is something, even if the personnel questions are not yet answered.
What kind of program is Monken running?
A demanding one, and he is not easing into it. Monken corrects pre-snap infractions immediately, demonstrates specific route-running techniques himself, and removes players who make mistakes rather than coaching through them in the moment. The message is that precision is not optional. Shedeur Sanders described the environment bluntly: it gives you no choice but to be great or to get out of the way. For a franchise that has cycled through quarterbacks, coaching staffs, and front-office regimes for the better part of two decades, the willingness to hold the standard regardless of roster name carries its own significance.
Players in this story
Sources
- ESPN: Browns' QB competition and 4 more things learned from OTAs
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