The Browns are heading into a pivotal stretch of camp, and Week 1 already gave Cleveland plenty to sort through as Todd Monken’s installation work winds down and the quarterback battle between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders keeps taking shape.
Before the pads come on Monday for the first time this summer, here’s a look at the biggest winners and losers from the first week in Berea.
One of the clearest early winners has been second-round pick Boston. He built chemistry with Sanders during the spring, and that connection has carried right into camp.
Through the first four practices, his size has stood out in a big way, along with the kind of catch radius that makes him a tough target to defend. He’s been reliable, too, pulling in everything thrown his way.
Once the pads go on, there should be even more buzz around him, especially with his willingness to help as a blocker.
Watson, meanwhile, has work to do. Throwing six interceptions in four practices is not the kind of start any quarterback wants, even if Monken isn’t treating the turnovers like a reason to panic.
That’s a positive sign for Watson, but this remains a real competition. Sanders hasn’t been spotless either, yet the fifth-round pick continues to show growth in his second NFL offseason.
Watson entered camp as the favorite, but he can’t keep piling up interceptions if he wants to stay there.
On the other side of the ball, first-time defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg’s group has gotten the better of Cleveland’s offense so far. That’s not completely surprising.
The Browns have overhauled their offensive line and are still mixing and matching starting spots across the unit. Even so, it’s encouraging to see the defense ahead at this stage.
With Jim Schwartz and Myles Garrett gone this offseason, Cleveland needs the defense to be strong, and early signs have been good. The defensive line starring Jared Verse has been active, and the secondary has been generating turnovers.
That said, Browns fans shouldn’t read too much into the early offensive line struggles. It’s hard to evaluate that group without pads, and now that the team is about to gear up in full gear, the offense has a chance to settle in. Andrew Berry invested heavily in the line this offseason, and Monken’s main task now is finding the final, fifth starting spot.
Two obvious winners already stood out in the first 48 hours back in Berea: Ward and Delpit. Both landed contract extensions, with Ward becoming the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history for the second time in his Browns career. He’s also already picked off Watson, while Delpit has made splash plays of his own since returning to the field.
That’s bad news for linebackers around the AFC North.
And one more name to watch: Judkins. Running behind Cleveland’s rough offensive line last season, he still managed 827 yards and seven rushing touchdowns. With Monken’s offense expected to be better, those numbers could climb.
In Other News...
Deshaun Watson Just Reignited The Browns Camp Debate
Deshaun Watson is back at the center of the Browns camp conversation as he heads into the final year of his five-year deal, with his future in Cleveland already hanging over a quarterback battle that has little room for drift. Entering another important summer after four seasons marked by injuries and limited playtime, Watson is once again trying to position himself as the starter for the coming season while the team weighs what comes next.
Todd Monken tried to cool the early camp reaction after Watsons rough stretch in practice, saying the turnovers were more a product of good defense than bad quarterbacking. Still, every snap matters for a player in Watsons spot, and his willingness to discuss an extension only adds another layer to a situation the Browns would rather settle on the field first. [Read more 🡒]
Dillon Gabriel Is Forcing His Way Into A Browns QB Battle
The Browns are carrying their quarterback competition into the second week of training camp, with the spotlight still fixed on the order of the depth chart and how the reps are being divided. Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders have been sharing the starting snaps, while rookie Dillon Gabriel has been working behind them and making the most of the chances he has been given.
Gabriels strong showings in limited work have started to register with the staff, and his route into the battle could get a little wider if that continues. Head coach Todd Monken has made it clear the job will go to whoever gives Cleveland the best chance to win in Week 1, which keeps the door open for a camp race that still feels far from settled. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Camp Is Raising One Big Question Fans Cant Ignore
Training camp is back in Berea, and for the Browns it has already settled into the familiar early-summer rhythm of shells, installation work and plenty of eyes on the quarterback room. Head coach Todd Monken is using the opening stretch to sort through a group that includes Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel, while the rest of the roster starts to take shape around a defense that, even after the Myles Garrett trade, still looks equipped with young talent and vocal leadership.
The offense has not produced a clear answer yet, which only sharpens the interest once pads come on and the competition gets real. Denzel Boston has been one of the early bright spots among the rookies, giving the Browns something to build on at wide receiver, but the larger question hanging over camp is the one Cleveland cannot avoid for long: who actually takes control when the reps start carrying more weight? [Read more 🡒]