"Something to work with": Shedeur Sanders under pressure as Cleveland Browns Head Coach Todd Monken flags key concern

The Cleveland Browns are heading into a crucial quarterback battle, and all eyes are on Shedeur Sanders. As the young QB enters his second NFL season, expectations are rising. However, on April 16, 2026, head coach Todd Monken made it clear that one part of Sanders’ game still needs work.


The concern is simple. In today’s NFL, mobility is no longer optional. It is essential.

Cleveland Browns coach Todd Monken makes an honest point on Shedeur Sanders’ mobility gap in the modern NFL

Speaking to ESPN’s analyst Kevin Clark on April 16, Browns HC Todd Monken did not hold back while evaluating Shedeur Sanders. He explained how the definition of a “mobile quarterback” has changed over time.

He said, "I think you see playmaking ability. I think you see a player that is confident in his skillset. So when you see that playmaking ability and inner confidence, you say, 'Okay, there's something to work with there."

Head Coach further added, “I said this morning that 15 or 20 years ago, they would have said that Shedeur Sanders was athletic,” Monken said. “They would have said he could escape. Well, the game’s changed so much to now he’s not a mobile quarterback. No, he’s mobile. He’s not as mobile as what we’ve come to where Lamar Jackson or the quickness that these players have. Their escape ability is completely changed from when it was.”


That comparison says a lot. Players like Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen have redefined the position. They extend plays with ease and turn broken situations into big gains. Sanders, on the other hand, operates differently. He can move, but he needs space and time to build momentum.


His numbers support that view. In Colorado in 2024, Sanders threw for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns while completing 74 percent of his passes. The efficiency stands out. Even so, he only scored four rushing touchdowns, so his rushing production stayed low. That pattern continued into his first NFL season in 2025, when he threw for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, and ran for only a little.


Still, this is not a closed case. Monken also pointed to Sanders’ confidence and playmaking ability as strong positives. More importantly, he shifted some responsibility onto the coaching staff. “Now, it’s going to be our fault if we can’t develop them,” Monken added in the same interaction.

That puts pressure on both sides. Sanders must adapt to the league's pace, while the Browns must build a system that fits his strengths. With Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel also in the mix, the competition remains wide open. Mobility alone will not decide the starter. But in today’s NFL, it might just decide how far a quarterback can go.






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