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Deshaun Watson Deshaun Watson Monken says no leader in QB battle
Mon, May 4, 2026, 10:56 AM
Head coach Todd Monken said Friday that a leader has yet to emerge in the quarterback competition between Watson and Shedeur Sanders, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Watson and Sanders rotated first-team opportunities during Cleveland's three-day voluntary minicamp, with Watson usually first in line for drills but Sanders taking more total reps. Monken has maintained that he would like to name a starting quarterback before the Browns open training camp in late July, but the coach said that it's too early in the process to make that decision at this point. |
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Restructures contract
Sat, May 2, 2026, 8:07 PM
Jones (knee) restructured his contract for the 2026 season to receive $1.5 million, including $1.145 million in guaranteed money, TTom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Jones was originally slated to make $3.7 million, but his salary be slashed by more than half. He played only three games in 2025 before tearing his LCL, but he should be ready to begin the 2026 campaign. |
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Shedeur Sanders Shedeur Sanders Losing ground to Watson?
Wed, Apr 29, 2026, 11:31 AM
Coach Todd Monken hopes to identify the Browns' starting QB by the end of the team's minicamp June 9-11, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Sanders and Deshaun Watson are considered the top two candidates to land the job.
Analysis: Per Cabot, Watson reportedly emerged from the team's voluntary minicamp last week with an edge over Sanders, which may give the veteran signal caller the inside track to the assignment, but Sanders does have time to make up ground before Monken makes the call. Also in Cleveland's QB mix are 2025 third-rounder Dillon Gabriel and 2026 sixth-rounder Taylen Green, but Cabot suggests that they will largely be vying for the developmental third spot on the roster. In any case, this is a job competition worth closely monitoring in the coming weeks/months, with the Browns slated to approach the coming campaign with an intriguing group of pass-catchers that includes returning WRs Jerry Jeudy, Cedric Tillman and Isaiah Bond, along with TE Harold Fannin,as well as a pair of talented rookie wideouts in KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston. |
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Deshaun Watson Deshaun Watson May have inside track for QB1
Wed, Apr 29, 2026, 11:10 AM
Watson reportedly emerged from last week's voluntary minicamp with an edge over Shedeur Sanders in the Browns' quarterback competition, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Analysis: The report notes that coach Todd Monken hopes to identify the team's starter by the end of Browns minicamp June 9-11, with Watson and Sanders viewed as the top two contenders for the role, while Dillon Gabriel and 2026 sixth-rounder Taylen Green are also in the mix to a lesser degree. Per Cabot, at this stage Watson --- who didn't see game action in 2025 due to an Achilles' injury -- appears to have the inside track to the assignment, but Sanders still has time to close the gap before Monken makes the call. In any case, the signal caller that ultimately gets the nod will be in line to helm a Cleveland passing offense that returns WRs Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman, as well as TE Harold Fannin, and is also set to welcome a pair of talented rookie wideouts in KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston. |
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Michael Burton Michael Burton Coming to Cleveland
Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 12:44 PM
Burton signed with the Browns on Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: The 34-year-old fullback from Rutgers is now joining the Browns after spending each of the last two seasons with the Broncos. Burton appeared in all 34 of Denver's regular-season games during that span, rushing 14 times for 17 yards and a touchdown while catching all 13 of his targets for 73 yards and a touchdown. Additionally, he was a major special-teams contributor, tallying 10 total tackles and one forced fumble across 577 snaps. Expect Burton to assume a similar role for Cleveland during the 2026 season. |
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Cedric Tillman Cedric Tillman Faces added competition for snaps
Mon, Apr 27, 2026, 10:27 AM
Tillman will face increased competition for snaps and targets after the Browns drafted a pair of rookie wide receivers in first-rounder KC Concepcion and second-rounder Denzel Boston in the 2026 Draft, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Tillman was categorized by Jackson as one of the Browns' biggest losers following the draft and looks to be a candidate to be traded over the summer. He's headed into the final year of his rookie contract but has shown glimpses of playmaking ability when paired with a quarterback who can push the ball down the field and outside the numbers. He has a career 71-833-5 line on 132 targets across 38 regular-season appearances. Boston is viewed as Cleveland's perimeter wide receiver of the future, according to Jackson. |
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Called upon by Browns
Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 5:46 PM
The Browns selected Ryan in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 248th overall.
Analysis: Ryan bounced from UCLA to Utah to BYU, and he finally broke out at his final destination with 45 receptions for 620 yards and three touchdowns, ranking third on the team in all three categories. The 22-year-old fits the tight-end build (6-foot-3, 255 pounds) while adding a 4.71 40-yard dash, and he's a dependable run blocker. He's one of eight tight ends currently on the Browns roster, but the only player with a truly secure role is Harold Fannin. |
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Picked by Cleveland
Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 3:09 PM
The Browns selected Green in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 182nd overall.
Analysis: Green spent the first three years of his college career at Boise State before transferring to Arkansas in 2024, where he operated as a dual-threat quarterback for the Razorbacks. He finished his senior season completing 60.7 percent of his passes for 2,714 yards, 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while turning 139 carries into 777 yards and eight scores across 12 games. Green was a standout at the 2026 NFL Combine in February, with his 4.36-second 40-yard dash being the fastest among quarterbacks since Reggie McNeal in 2026. Green joins a Browns quarterback room that also consists of Deshaun Watson and 2025 selections Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. However, it's worth noting that Cleveland hired Todd Monken as the head coach, and Monken served as the Ravens' offensive coordinator from 2023 to 2025 with Lamar Jackson as the starting quarterback, which could help Green emerge from the rest of the pack. |
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Nabbed by Cleveland
Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 2:28 PM
The Browns selected Royer in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 170th overall.
Analysis: After starting his career at Ohio State and spending four years with the Buckeyes, Royer transferred to Cincinnati prior to 2024 and racked up a combined 79 catches for 938 yards and seven touchdowns over the last two seasons with the Bearcats. Royer sports sound hands and an ability to make things happen after the catch (8.9 YAC/reception in 2025), and he's a solid blocker in the run game. However, he isn't blessed with the top-tier athleticism for the position. Royer joins a tight end room that cut David Njoku loose this offseason, leaving Jack Stoll as the No. 2 option at tight end. Royer will likely slot in as a depth option for now with potential to move up the depth chart, depending on how he fares in camp. |
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Selected by Cleveland
Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 1:32 PM
The Browns selected Jefferson in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 149th overall.
Analysis: Jefferson played most recently for Alabama but transferred there after initially playing two years at Pearl River Community College. At Alabama, he was a backup until 2025, his third year there and fifth collegiate season. If a player can't earn a starting FBS role within their first four collegiate seasons then it generally means they won't be starting in the NFL, and Jefferson raises further concern on that front with his light frame (6-foot, 223 pounds). Jefferson is athletic enough to contribute on special teams, though, and might even be able to play some rover-like functions thanks to his 4.57 speed. |
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Snagged by Cleveland
Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 1:27 PM
The Browns selected Brailsford in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 146th overall.
Analysis: Brailsford (6-foot-2, 289 pounds) will provide much-needed depth at center for Cleveland, where new starter Elgton Jenkins (lower leg) and reserve options Luke Wypler (knee) and Kingsley Eguakun (knee) are all recovering from injury. The limitations of Brailsford's frame may make him most suited to a rotational gig at the NFL level, but he brings significant experience to the table after having started 42 games across his final three seasons with Washington and Alabama. |
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Selected by Cleveland
Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 9:33 PM
The Browns selected Barber in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 86th overall.
Analysis: Barber was a full-time starter at left tackle in each of his last three college seasons with Florida and was named to the All-SEC Third-Team in 2025. He stands at 6-foot-7 and 318 pounds and has the size and tools to succeed at the NFL level, though he struggled at times with outside speed and power. The Browns took Spencer Fano with the ninth overall pick of this year's draft, and he figures to serve as the team's starter at left tackle while Barber provides depth at offensive tackle behind Fano and Tytus Howard. |
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Chosen by Browns
Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 8:02 PM
The Browns selected McNeil-Warren in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 58th overall.
Analysis: McNeil-Warren (6-foot-4, 201 pounds) was commonly projected to come off the board notably earlier than the late second round, and Cleveland ultimately decided it worth trading up with the 49ers in order to end his slide. A three-year starter at Toledo with the combination of size and athleticism to succeed at the NFL level, McNeil-Warren's landing spot with the Browns will make him the top safety off the bench behind starters Grant Delpit and Ronnie Hickman. |
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Picked by Browns
Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 6:39 PM
The Browns selected Boston in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 39th overall.
Analysis: Boston (6-foot-4, 212 pounds) has the build to impose physicality and reach from the boundary, where he did big damage especially as a downfield and red-zone jump-ball target at Washington. That Boston declined to run a 40-yard dash before the draft invites the suspicion that he might lack the long speed to regularly push downfield at the NFL level, but if he can keep winning on jump balls in the intermediate and end zone then that might be enough for Boston to prove a quality WR2 in the NFL. It might not be easy for Boston to immediately displace Cedric Tillman as the primary big wideout in Cleveland, but in the long term it's expected that Boston and 24th overall pick KC Concepcion should top the Browns' depth chart at wideout. |
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Selected by Browns
Thu, Apr 23, 2026, 9:30 PM
The Browns selected Concepcion in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 24th overall.
Analysis: Concepcion began his career at North Carolina State, where he posted one of the most productive true freshman seasons of all time (71 receptions for 839 yards and 10 touchdowns on 106 targets, 41 carries for 320 yards), putting himself on the national map as a big-play open-field menace. His sophomore season was less successful, but Concepcion bounced back as a junior after transferring to Texas A&M in 2025. At 6-feet, 196 pounds Concepcion is just big enough to project for two-wide sets and thus avoid the dreaded 'Slot Specialist' label, but his game will still probably center mostly on the underneath and intermediate portion of the field due to questions with his hands and downfield route-running ability. Concepcion's ability to stop, start and change direction is memorable and should make him a dangerous YAC threat if nothing else. A March knee scope is believed to be a non-issue. |
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Selected by Browns
Thu, Apr 23, 2026, 8:05 PM
The Browns selected Fano in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, ninth overall.
Analysis: The Browns traded back from the sixth spot before selecting Fano, who was clearly their intended target the whole time. Fano (6-foot-6, 311 pounds) started at right tackle for Utah and won the Outland Trophy in 2025, but coach Todd Monken was quick to note Thursday that Cleveland plans to use him at left tackle, per Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com. The concern with Fano was that he lacked the reach (32 and 1/8-inch arms) of a traditional offensive tackle, but evidently it wasn't enough to make the Browns flinch. Fano has excellent athleticism across the board (4.91-second 40, 32-inch vertical), and that's no doubt part of what led Cleveland to take the leap of faith on Fano in the top 10. |
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Quinshon Judkins Quinshon Judkins Rehabbing at voluntary minicamp
Wed, Apr 22, 2026, 11:17 AM
Judkins (ankle) was spotted in uniform and rehabbing at the start of Cleveland's voluntary minicamp on Tuesday, Dylan Feltovich of USA Today reports.
Analysis: Judkins' exact participation level is difficult to determine, with Camryn Justice of News 5 Cleveland reporting that the 2025 second-round pick participated in on-field activities in some capacity, while Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports that he monitored practice from a side field. In any case, Judkins' activity level during spring figures to be largely limited to rehab work as he recovers from surgery undergone in late December to address a dislocated right ankle. Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, Judkins projects as the leader of a backfield that also houses Dylan Sampson, Raheim Sanders and Ahmani Marshall, all of whom are second-year pros. |
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Shedeur Sanders Shedeur Sanders First up for spring reps
Wed, Apr 22, 2026, 11:00 AM
Sanders started Cleveland's first 11-on-11 team period at voluntary minicamp Tuesday, though he rotated reps with fellow QBs Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel, Kelsey Russo of the Browns' official site reports.
Analysis: Sanders is firmly in the mix in Cleveland's quarterback competition, though there isn't necessarily much information to glean from the chronology of team drills at this stage in the offseason. That said, new head coach Todd Monken did note that "[t]he plan was to have [Sanders] have a few more reps, but to let Deshaun [Watson] and [Sanders] both have reps with the ones." Monken's comments essentially confirm assumptions that Sanders is entering spring workouts as the favorite for No. 1 QB reps over Watson, while Gabriel ranks closer to No. 3 on the depth chart, though things stand to be fluid given the ongoing nature of this positional competition. Across eight regular-season appearances (seven starts) as a rookie, Sanders completed 57 percent of his pass attempts for 1,400 yards, seven TDs and 10 INTs. |
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Harold Fannin Harold Fannin Participates in minicamp
Tue, Apr 21, 2026, 6:17 PM
Fannin (groin) participated in Tuesday's voluntary veteran minicamp practice, Kelsey Russo of the Browns' official site reports.
Analysis: Fannin sat out the Browns' 2025 season finale against the Bengals due to a groin injury, but the tight end's participation in Monday's session illustrates that he's moved past the issue. As the coming campaign approaches, Fannin sits firmly atop his team's TE depth chart, which no longer includes David Njoku, who remains a free agent. As a rookie last year, Fannin recorded a team-high 72 catches (on 107 targets) for 731 yards and six TDs in 16 regular-season contests. With Njoku no longer in the mix, Fannin should have an opportunity to improve on those numbers, health-permitting, given that current reserves Jack Stoll, Blake Whiteheart, Brenden Bates and Sal Cannella are not likely to command significant volume in Cleveland's offense. |
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Remaining with Browns
Mon, Apr 6, 2026, 7:07 PM
Reid signed his exclusive-rights free-agent tender with Cleveland on Monday.
Analysis: Reid didn't play at all last season after suffering a back injury in late August. However, the Weber State product worked his way up to a pretty big role as a rookie in 2024, with most of his work coming on special teams. If Reid is back to full health and able to make the roster ahead of the upcoming campaign, he'll likely reprise his role as a depth option and special-teamer. |
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