The regular season is quickly approaching with the preseason already in full swing. The Browns have been looking good in recent practices, and are showing that this team could be different from years past. New head coach Todd Monken appears to be getting more out of this team, which is a great sign.
Ken Carman recently talked about the encouraging things he has been seeing from this team in recent joint practices.
“I was encouraged by how encouraged Todd Monken was. You can’t just have guys roll over and die. I’ve said it before, we’re not just a quarterback away. Hold on for second before you lose your mind. You’re a quarterback away, but you’re a couple of drafts away from competing competing. You’re on the way, if you get a quarterback, to being on the right track. To stand in there and hold your own, I’m down with it, and I think they did. That’s okay. I’m happy to see it. There’s plenty of opportunities over here. There’s diamonds in the rough. Away we go,” Carman said.
"I was encouraged by how encouraged Todd Monken was. I've said it before, we're not just a QB away. Hold on for second before you freak out on me…Listen to me here before you lose your mind."
🚨 @KenCarman to @SportsBoyTony with some energy on the #Browns this AM following… https://t.co/kyOiE6TfvJ pic.twitter.com/DfydClCFgc
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) August 21, 2026
On paper, the Browns might not look like a very competitive unit heading into the season, but they might surprise some people. This is a young team that might be better than many of the experts expect going into the year.
The biggest hole on this team is at the quarterback spot. This team lacks a true franchise quarterback, and that player probably isn’t on the organization right now. Having a viable player under center can change the entire direction of a team.
The Browns are hopeful that Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders can bring this team some life this upcoming season. Neither player is likely a long-term solution under center, but the team has to give them a chance with my other viable options in sight.
This team is young, with multiple rookies or second-year players having starting roles on the team. Having a veteran quarterback such as Watson under center could relieve some of the pressure for the younger players. However, it’s unclear what Watson really has left in the tank after not playing since 2024.
At the end of the day, having low expectations might be the best thing for this Browns team. Without a franchise quarterback, this team cannot truly compete, but this is a young squad that might surprise people.
Monken is getting the most out of these players, so we’ll see what the underdog Browns can do.
NEXT: Analyst Reveals 2 Biggest Concerns Browns Are Facing This Season
