Browns' Monken Reveals What's 'Hard' for Shedeur Sanders Because He's 'Such a Playmaker'

Cleveland Browns coach Todd Monken says one area in which quarterback Shedeur Sanders can still grow is getting rid of the ball sooner when there's no available play.

"He's improving his operation, pre-snap, post-snap, his eyes and his feet working in conjunction," Monken said Saturday about Sanders' development (h/t ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi). "Getting able to check the ball down and get it out of his hands— he's such a playmaker that that's hard for him.

"For a guy that is always looking to make a play, he's super competitive. That is a win. Trying to get super competitive quarterbacks to understand that throwing the ball away, and eliminating lost yardage plays, is a win. And that's something over time that he'll continue to build on."

Sanders took 23 sacks in eight appearances during his rookie season while recording what Next Gen Stats reports was the highest average time to throw in the NFL.

The quarterback spoke shortly before Week 18 of the 2025 season about wanting to improve his decision-making going forward.

"I'd say the biggest jump for me, and what I plan on showing and plan on improving, is when there is no play— and I can't get out of it, I can't run— what I'm going to do with the ball," Sanders said (h/t Cleveland 19's Ashly Holder).

Sanders is currently competing with Deshaun Watson to be named the Browns' starting quarterback ahead of Week 1 of the regular season.

The two quarterbacks have so far been alternating days with the first-team offense, and Monken has declined to say whether either signal caller has the edge in the competition.

Sanders is set to start one of the Browns' two preseason games, either Aug. 15 against the Chicago Bears or Aug. 22 against the Buffalo Bills.

Whether Sanders can use that start to demonstrate improved decision-making could impact his likelihood of being named QB1 ahead of the team's regular-season opener Sept. 13 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.