{"id":271432,"date":"2026-03-31T09:30:54","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T13:30:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=271432"},"modified":"2026-03-31T09:02:39","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T13:02:39","slug":"sanders-reboot-todd-monkens-offseason-program-is-reshaping-shedeurs-career-arc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2026\/03\/31\/sanders-reboot-todd-monkens-offseason-program-is-reshaping-shedeurs-career-arc\/","title":{"rendered":"Sanders Reboot: Todd Monken\u2019s Offseason Program Is Reshaping Shedeur\u2019s Career Arc"},"content":{"rendered":"

When the Cleveland Browns hired new head coach Todd Monken<\/a>, the conversation immediately shifted to the starting quarterback situation and the question of whether Shedeur Sanders<\/a> would be the starter in 2026. While the Cleveland faithful wait impatiently for that answer, Sanders posted a single character on X Monday night: \u201c#2.\u201d After wearing No. 12 as a rookie (his preferred college number wasn\u2019t available), the second-year quarterback is reclaiming the jersey number that defined him at Jackson State, Colorado, and Trinity Christian High School.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s more than a wardrobe or fashion statement. In the quiet weeks before the NFL\u2019s official offseason program kicks off in April, Sanders has been preparing for Monken\u2019s system and molding himself for what comes next.<\/p>\n

Owner Jimmy Haslam discussed Sanders last week, saying he has been in Cleveland the better part of the winter, hitting the facility early and looking sharper physically. \u201cHis body looks better,\u201d Haslam said. \u201cHe\u2019s been working hard.\u201d Haslam believes Sanders got an education on being an NFL quarterback last season and is responding appropriately.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s in the voluntary, pre-draft grind where the real reshaping is happening under Monken\u2019s watchful eye.<\/p>\n

Footwork: Less Means More<\/h2>\n

Looking back on Shedeur\u2019s rookie season<\/a>, the traits that made him a quality passer in Colorado appeared at times. The accuracy, touch to arc, movement, and confidence flashed on display. However, too much \u201chero ball\u201d happened behind a leaky offensive line that allowed 23 sacks in just eight games. Hurried throws, forced steps, and bailing on relatively clean pockets remained an issue\u2014and something Sanders has to correct if he wants to take the next step.<\/p>\n

With Monken<\/a>, the former Baltimore Ravens<\/a> OC who built an entire offense around Lamar Jackson, there should be more opportunities for layered window throws that can get the ball out of Shedeur\u2019s hands relatively quickly. This will obviously depend on how the Browns\u2019 line holds up with all of the new faces. Monken brought Travis Switzer with him from Baltimore to implement an offense that will reward a passer with precision movement, and they are already drilling the quarterbacks on it.<\/p>\n

This doesn\u2019t mean they’re looking for a pocket statue. It’s simply trying to create an atmosphere where efficiency of movement offers relatable downfield options. While there\u2019s not a lot of reporting that comes out of this time period, the little that has suggested that Sanders is taking well to what the coaching staff is pushing. By simply tightening his footwork\u2014making sure his base is set before releasing\u2014the already solid accuracy Sanders displays will continue to improve.<\/p>\n

Decision-Making: Simplicity, Efficiency, and Aggression<\/h2>\n

Measuring year-to-year growth during a player\u2019s rookie contract is how GMs shape their opinion on dedicating the most important asset a franchise has when developing the roster: time. If Shedeur wants Andrew Berry<\/a> to continue investing that valued commodity in his future, he will need to show that some of what plagued him in his first year is not only correctable but something he can push out and forget. The hesitation to release, fleeing unnecessarily, and putting the ball in harm\u2019s way through questionable decision-making\u2014these are things that cannot accompany him into Year 2.<\/p>\n

Monken\u2019s track record is built on offenses that put quarterbacks in position to win with pre-snap awareness and post-snap efficiency. RPOs, play-action boots, and quick-game concepts that reduce the mental load while still attacking vertically should play into Shedeur\u2019s skill set. The wheel doesn\u2019t need to be reinvented for success. The Browns need to create an atmosphere around Sanders that supplies him with opportunities to limit mistakes and maximize positive results.<\/p>\n

Insiders say the voluntary program has already emphasized pre-snap communication and half-field reads. This will help Sanders get the ball out faster, immediately limiting the need for extra steps. It\u2019s an environment built on utilizing his arm talent quickly in each rep. That alone tips the scales toward a successful outcome more often than not.<\/p>\n

Leadership: Stepping into the Role<\/h2>\n

Haslam\u2019s praise<\/a> wasn\u2019t just about Shedeur\u2019s reps. It was also about his presence. Sanders stuck around when he didn\u2019t have to. He bought in early, and Monken\u2014a player\u2019s coach\u2014is obviously going to respect the work ethic.
\nThe jersey number change represents very little on its own, but it could also reveal something meaningful. That something could be Sanders’ desire to reclaim the top spot in the locker room among his teammates. Some in the locker room have already noticed a difference in energy. Monken has stated that Cleveland will have an open competition for the starter, but Sanders appears to be treating it like his rise is an inevitability, not a question.<\/p>\n

With Sanders approaching this offseason like the franchise quarterback of the future, it will only heighten expectations for him in 2026. The fans in Cleveland have been waiting\u2014praying\u2014for a signal-caller to arrive who changes the Browns’ legacy forever.<\/p>\n

Sanders believes he is that passer, and he is putting in the work while no one watches to prove that belief.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When the Cleveland Browns hired new head coach Todd Monken, the conversation immediately shifted to Shedeur Sanders and the QB situation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5786,"featured_media":271458,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6431,8],"tags":[6008,3399,32477,9679],"class_list":["post-271432","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl-teams","category-browns","tag-andrew-berry","tag-jimmy-haslam","tag-shedeur-sanders","tag-todd-monken"],"modified_by":"Sue Levine","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271432","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5786"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=271432"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271432\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":271455,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271432\/revisions\/271455"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/271458"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=271432"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=271432"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=271432"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}