Todd Monken Praises Shedeur Sanders’ Rapid Development During Browns OTAs

The Cleveland Browns entered organized team activities hoping to see meaningful development from young quarterback Shedeur Sanders, and early returns have drawn an unexpectedly positive response from the coaching staff. As the team continues its preparations for the 2026 season, Sanders has become one of the central figures in Cleveland’s offensive evaluation process.

New head coach Todd Monken has overseen the quarterback’s early offseason work and has been encouraged by what he has seen so far. Rather than incremental improvement, Monken described noticeable strides in Sanders’ ability to operate within the structure of the offense.

For a player still early in his career and adjusting to the pace of the NFL, the evaluation carries added weight. Sanders entered the league with questions about processing speed and decision-making, while his arm talent was widely viewed as his strongest trait.

Now, with a full offseason under Monken’s system, the Browns are beginning to see signs that Sanders is adapting more quickly to the mental demands of professional football.

1. Coaches See Major Mental Growth

Monken was particularly direct when assessing Sanders’ progress during OTAs, emphasizing how far the young quarterback has come since first entering the program. His comments pointed less to physical tools and more to mental development within the offense. “He has ‘come miles’ from where he started,” Monken said, highlighting improvements in Sanders’ decision-making and overall command. The phrase underscored a level of development that goes beyond routine offseason optimism. According to Monken, Sanders has improved in key areas such as progressing through reads, releasing the ball more efficiently, and understanding complex offensive concepts. These are the foundational elements of quarterback play in Monken’s system. For a coaching staff that has prioritized structure and discipline, Sanders’ progress in these areas is seen as a critical step toward long-term reliability at the position.

2. Adjusting To A Demanding System

Much of Sanders’ offseason focus has centered on adapting to the speed and complexity of Monken’s offense. The system places heavy emphasis on pre-snap recognition, quick decision-making, and precise timing between quarterback and receivers. Early in his development, those demands presented challenges, particularly in diagnosing defensive looks and reacting under pressure. However, the coaching staff believes his comfort level has steadily increased through repetition and film study. Sanders’ ability to get the ball out more quickly has been one of the most noticeable improvements, reducing negative plays and helping the offense operate more efficiently during practice sessions. That adjustment has been a focal point for coaches since his rookie year. The Browns have also stressed consistency in execution, an area where Sanders has shown growth as he becomes more familiar with the terminology and structure of the playbook.

3. Second-Year Outlook And Opportunity

Sanders was selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft and was thrust into action during his rookie season, appearing in eight games and starting seven. His first year brought a mix of valuable experience and expected growing pains. He finished the season completing 56.6 percent of his passes for 1,400 yards, with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. While the numbers reflected inconsistency, they also provided a baseline for development in a challenging offensive environment. Much of his rookie year was shaped by uneven protection and the adjustment to NFL defensive speed, both of which contributed to his turnover rate and fluctuating production. Despite those obstacles, the Browns remained committed to his long-term development. Now entering his second season, Sanders is benefiting from continuity and a clearer understanding of the system. If his offseason trajectory continues, Cleveland may be closer to identifying a long-term answer at quarterback than previously believed.