Cleveland Browns Enter 2026 Training Camp Amid Quarterback Battle, Pass-Rush Overhaul and Contract Questions

The Browns will convene for mandatory minicamp on June 10, 2026, before the full roster reports on July 23 (rookies) and July 28 (veterans) at the Cross Country Mortgage Campus in Berea, Ohio. First-year head coach Todd Monken will use the camp to solidify his offensive scheme, decide the starting quarterback, and assess how the defense adapts after trading Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams on June 1, 2026.

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Both Deshaun Watson (returning from two Achilles surgeries) and Shedeur Sanders have split first-team reps in spring workouts. Monken has indicated the competition will extend into padded practices and preseason games, promising a starter by Week 1 of the regular season on September 13, 2026. The depth chart also lists third-year rookie Dillon Gabriel (2025 third-round pick) behind the two veterans.

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Garrett’s departure removes a former NFL Defensive Player of the Year who recorded an NFL-record 23 sacks in 2025. In return, Cleveland received Jared Verse, a two-time Pro Bowler and 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year who posted 12 sacks, 71 tackles and five forced fumbles over 34 games with the Rams. Verse will be joined by defensive ends Alex Wright and Isaiah McGuire, and interior linemen Mason Graham (who ranked 20th among DTs in pass-rush win rate at 8.3 %) and Maliek Collins (career-high 6.5 sacks in 2025, pending health after a quad injury).

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Second-year back Quinshon Judkins leads the depth chart after a rookie season of 827 yards on 230 carries (3.6 YPC) and seven touchdowns, despite a late-season dislocated ankle and fractured fibula. Backup Dylan Sampson showed promise as a receiver (33 catches for 271 yards) but posted inconsistent rushing numbers. The Browns have not yet addressed the void left by departing Jerome Ford and may explore free-agent or trade options; veteran Nick Chubb hinted at a possible return, stating “You never know what can happen.”

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Cornerback Denzel Ward (five-time Pro Bowler) and safety Grant Delpit (final year of a three-year extension) have not attended mandatory minicamp, raising questions about their contract status. General manager Andrew Berry emphasized Ward’s continued importance, noting “Denzel’s been great throughout the offseason… He’s a big part of the team.”

Heavy

The quarterback decision will dictate offensive identity under Monken’s creative play-calling. Replacing Garrett’s pass-rush production tests the defense’s ability to maintain the 53 sacks recorded in 2025. Meanwhile, the running game’s efficiency could determine whether Cleveland can sustain drives without a dominant aerial attack.

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Analysts note Watson’s four-year tenure in Cleveland has been “injury-riddled” and statistically underwhelming, potentially favoring Sanders despite his “bad habits” of holding the ball too long. The pass-rush downgrade from Garrett to Verse also fuels skepticism about the defense’s ability to pressure quarterbacks at the same level.

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• “The Browns might have some off-field business to tend to before the season starts.” — Daniel Oyefusi, ESPN analyst

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• “So, I’d say number one, I think it’s probably most appropriate for Denzel to speak for himself,” — Andrew Berry, General Manager

Heavy

• “I definitely still want to be here,” — Denzel Ward, Cornerback

Heavy

• “Just because Myles is gone, we still have production in the room,” — Alex Wright, Defensive End

Heavy

• Maliek Collins did not participate in OTAs or minicamp; his health status for camp remains unconfirmed.

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• The exact timeline for the quarterback decision is unspecified; Monken has only promised a starter by Week 1.

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Training camp will culminate in preseason games that should reveal the starting quarterback, the effectiveness of Verse’s pass rush, and the final composition of the running-back rotation before the September 13 season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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