The Opening Drive 5/29: Browns OTA Storylines -- Week Two Takeaways

Thoughts on the narratives coming out Berea after another full set of OTAs.

Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns are still months away from meaningful football, but this week’s OTA practices have already started shaping some critical conversations surrounding the franchise heading into the 2026 season. Between the quarterback competition, Todd Monken’s offensive identity, roster battles, and several intriguing young players emerging early, there is no shortage of important developments coming out of Berea.

The Quarterback Competition

Everything surrounding the Browns right now starts with the quarterback room.

The last two weeks signify the first real opportunity to evaluate Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, and Taylen Green operating together within Todd Monken’s system during organized team periods. These OTA practices are giving the coaching staff its first extended look at how each quarterback handles installs, timing, communication, and overall command of the offense.

The biggest thing to watch is not necessarily who throws the prettiest deep ball in shorts. It is the player who consistently processes quickly, gets the offense lined up properly, and shows command within Monken’s structure.

Monken has never hidden that he values decisiveness and efficiency in the quarterback position. The Browns are clearly trying to build a more explosive offense, but they also want cleaner operations overall after years of offensive inconsistency.

Todd Monken’s Offensive Identity Is Already Showing