New Browns head coach called out for ‘disrespecting’ Shedeur Sanders with decision

Cleveland Browns are in a very familiar situation as the 2026 season approaches. 

With the selection of ‘rare’ Taylen Green at the NFL Draft, members in the Browns quarterback room are up to four.

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It’s the same situation they found themselves in entering the 2025 season, after they selected two rookies in Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel.

The consensus so far this offseason is that the competition is down to Sanders and Deshaun Watson, who is returning from a ruptured achilles.

Sanders has been labeled as the favorite after starting the final seven games for Cleveland, throwing for 1,400 yards and 11 touchdowns.

The son of Pro-football Hall-of-Famer Deion, also controversially made the Pro Bowl after player withdrawals.

Legendary sports columnist Skip Bayless did not agree with the Browns decision to add another quarterback, claiming it was an attack on Shedeur.

“Eight of the ten picks were offensive players, which is great great great. And then, why would you do that to Shedeur?” Bayless said, on Monday’s episode of The Arena: Gridiron.

“Why would you bring in (Green)? It just scares me that Monken is saying, ‘I could work with that.’ … I’m saying, ‘What are you doing to Shedeur? Why would you bring in a kid that’s younger than him now and say, well he’s got a chance.’ …

“I don’t know. It just hurt me. For Shedeur’s sake, just a small sign of disrespect in that in six rounds you had to say, ‘Oh, we’re gonna take a project quarterback who’s got potential to be more than just a running quarterback.’ I don’t know.”

It’s Todd Monken’s first season as head coach of the Browns, and he joins a franchise that has desperately searched for their long-term solution at quarterback. 

With four to choose from, Monken has insisted it will be an open competition. 

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Green made it very clear that he will do anything he can to be named starter, in a direct warning to Sanders and the rest of the crop.

The 23-year-old spent three years as the starter for Boise State, before transferring to Arkansas for his final two seasons. In 53 games, he produced 9,662 yards and 59 touchdowns.

Green is 6-foot-5, 227 pounds, and displayed incredible athletic traits at the NFL Combine, leading some to believe he may switch from being a QB.

However, the idea that he could be utilized elsewhere in the offense was quickly shut down by Monken. 

In his introductory press conference, Green revealed he does not have a relationship with Sanders, just one of the three quarterbacks he needs to beat to be named starter.

“Yeah, I mean, I know of him,” Green said. 

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“I don’t have a personal relationship with him. He played high school in Texas, so we went to similar camps. … That’s how I know of him.

“But, like I said, I don’t have a personal relationship with him. But what he did at Colorado and what he did last year was really good.

“And like I said, I’m just really excited to work with him and pick things up from him and everybody in the quarterback room because they were very successful, not just in college, but in the NFL as well.”

It’s clear to see that Green is not short of confidence, and the Browns QB battle will once again be an interesting storyline to pay attention to as the season draws nearer.

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