Shedeur Sanders’ Browns rival makes bold Lamar Jackson claim but Todd Monken brings QB back down to earth

The Cleveland Browns set up another four-man quarterback battle by swooping for Taylen Green in the sixth round.

Deshaun Watson is believed to be in pole position, with sophomores Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel both fighting the controversial veteran for a shot.

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None of them offer the same two-way upside as Green, however.

Standing at 6ft 6ins, he ran a blistering 4.36 yard 40 at the Scouting Combine.

In fact, only Indianapolis Colts No. 2 Anthony Richardson‘s physical numbers even come close at the quarterback position — something Green is only too aware of.

“To be honest, no,” Green said when asked if any quarterbacks could compete with him physically by Mary Kay Cabot. “I would say of course Lamar [Jackson], but he ain’t 6′6′.

“Josh Allen is close, but I’m 230. He’s like 260. My dad says Randall Cunningham-ish. I really don’t think there’s anybody like me.

“Not in a like cocky [way] or anything, just some confidence. There’s nobody that moves like me, that’s as tall as me.”

Green set QB records in the vertical and broad jump at the Combine, but athleticism isn’t everything — especially under center.

Just ask Richardson whose injury history and inconsistent throwing saw him replaced by Daniel Jones.

Green’s arm was an issue at times in Arkansas and Browns head coach Todd Monken — who saw plenty of Lamar Jackson as Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator — delivered a reality check.

“Well, first thing was . . . footwork,” Monken said of what the rookie needed to work on. “Cadence — getting used to our cadence early on, and he was better today, but [Saturday] morning and [Friday], choppy with his cadence.

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“So just getting our guys into a rhythm at the line of scrimmage, I think that was the second thing he needed to work on.

“He did a nice job today of working through his progressions. I did like that part of it. We’re gonna have to be really diligent in trying to tighten down his release.

“When you’re talking about check downs taken from as long of his release or long release he has, to really just being able to dart it to get it quickly out of his hands into the hands of whether it’s a running back or a tight end.

“But I’ve been super impressed with his ability to really learn, process and take it to the field and then getting through his progressions, really impressive.”

Arm mechanics can take a while to figure out, but there is no doubting Green’s potential if he can develop his game as a passer.

The Browns were likely not planning on deploying him this season and the opportunity may have been too good to pass up in the sixth round.

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Cabot claims that Watson appears to have the inside track in the QB1 battle, but Sanders showed flashes of potential after climbing the depth chart in 2025.

Defensive lineman Maliek Collins was impressed with what Deion’s son offered.

“I think for the main thing, it is, they both great dudes,” Collins said on Terron Armstead’s podcast.

“I was with Deshaun for a second in Houston before he get traded up here. So I seen, I played against him when I was in Dallas, so I seen what type of player he is, I seen how dynamic he has been in the past. I think he got a lot to prove.

“I think Shedeur, super talented, I think he has a lot to prove, too. Maybe to themselves, like, ‘Who am I?’ I think whoever we rolling with is who we are rolling with. I think they said it is an open competition.

“Let the best man win in that situation. I like Shedeur, I like the swag he brings, the confidence he plays with. Deshaun’s a little bit more quiet but he is still a baller.”

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