As the Browns work through the decision at quarterback, the prospect of a competition isn’t one that either Executive Vice President of Football Operations Andrew Berry or Monken are completely shying away from. Any quarterback in the position group will compete and must earn the starting job.

“Sure, I think it’s an open competition,” Monken said. “I mean, I don’t why it wouldn’t be an open competition. I don’t mean that saying it harshly, but I don’t think there’s enough on film over the last couple years one way or the other to say, boy, we have our starter at quarterback yet. Whether internally or externally.”

However, while that possibility is on the table at this point in the offseason, Monken also explained there can be an added benefit of having a named quarterback ahead of training camp.

“You would hope that that’s the case,” Monken said. “You would hope that by the time you get to training camp that the reps that you’re giving to a quarterback is for your starter. Whether we get to that place, I don’t know. That’ll be determined in the offseason as part of it. It’s just another part of the piece.”

The Browns’ quarterback room has a mix of youth and experience, as their rookies each saw playing time during their first seasons while Watson brings seven years of experience in his return from injury.

Sanders began his rookie season as the emergency quarterback before stepping into the backup role when Gabriel became the starter. Then Sanders started the final seven games of his rookie season, completing 120 of 212 passing attempts for 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns. He also threw 10 interceptions and was sacked 23 times.

Monken sees strong qualities in Sanders’ game, as well as opportunities for growth in his second season with the Browns.

“I think what you see is elite playmaking ability. That’s in him,” Monken said. “You’ve seen it. We’ve seen it. You saw it in college. You saw it on tape last year. Sure, there’s a ways to go. But what rookie isn’t, I mean, what first year player doesn’t have a long way to go? So, I’m excited to get started with him and all of our quarterbacks and all of our players.”