A lot has been made about the number of interceptions the Cleveland Browns’ quarterbacks have thrown so far in training camp, likely because there have been so many of them. While it is unlikely to be the determining factor in the quarterback competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, it has to factor into Todd Monken’s decision on a starter somewhat.
In nine training camp practices, the Browns’ QBs have thrown 17 interceptions. That is an astounding number when you consider that some of them came in 7-on-7 drills against no real pass rush.
That said, analyst Earl D Mauldin is pushing back on how the Browns’ QB battle is being judged, saying that interceptions should not be a primary focus because it is OK to make mistakes while adapting to a new offense.
“When you are learning and you’re installing a new system, you wanna push the envelope a little bit. This is the time to make the mistakes and get better and understand what you’re doing. I’d rather these quarterbacks are throwing interceptions as they’re installing and learning the offense during practice versus Week 1 or Week 2 in a real game,” Mauldin said.
"When you are learning and you're installing a new system, you wanna push the envelope a little bit. 'What can I get away with?' This is the time to make mistakes…"
➡️ @earldapearl_216 and @Spencito_ on why there's too much being put into the #Browns QBs practice performances… pic.twitter.com/wlj2F6nLij
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) August 8, 2026
There could be a fair amount of boundary pushing and limit testing involved in those interception numbers, especially from Watson, who may be trying to see what passes he is still capable of making after being sidelined by injury for almost two years. The Browns’ elite defense also deserves a good deal of credit, even though it was not a ball-hawking unit last season, with just 11 interceptions in 17 games.
According to ESPN Cleveland’s QB tracker, in the first nine practices, Watson had 10 interceptions in 185 attempts. Sanders had four interceptions in 179 attempts, after throwing just one in the first six practices. Dillon Gabriel has five INTs in 86 attempts without taking many first-team reps.
Monken said he was embarrassed by the interceptions he saw during spring workouts, so he undoubtedly doesn’t like the fact that the issue has carried over into training camp. His offense tests its quarterback with exacting precision in everything from operating the huddle to alignment adjustments to the proper snap-count cadence, so he can’t have much patience for turnovers of any kind.
With the preseason opener against the Chicago Bears coming up next Saturday, the number of interceptions thrown in that game could tilt the Browns’ QB competition one way or the other.
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