Cleveland, May 6, 2026, 10:21 EDT
Todd Monken hasn’t coached a game yet for the Cleveland Browns, but Fox Sports’ Henry McKenna is already pointing to him as a possible fault line. In a piece published this week, McKenna suggests both Monken and general manager Andrew Berry could find themselves on the hot seat if things unravel by 2026. “The Browns can’t really afford to tank,” McKenna wrote—referring to the practice of losing games for better draft picks. FOX Sports
Timing’s key here. Cleveland wants to prove this isn’t just another holding pattern. Over in Baltimore, Monken’s old team and another AFC North contender, the Ravens are bringing veteran defensive lineman Calais Campbell back as Jesse Minter, in his first season as head coach, reshapes the defense.
The Browns tapped Monken as their 19th full-time head coach on Jan. 28, pitching the move as an offensive play. Citing Baltimore’s top ranking in rushing yards and third spot in points per game under Monken’s three-year run as Ravens coordinator, Cleveland leaned into the numbers. Berry pointed to Monken’s success with a range of quarterback types, arguing it gives the Browns “maximum flexibility” as they commit to “long-term investments” on offense. Cleveland Browns
The mission at hand: overhaul the quarterback room—and do it fast, or the roster looks shaky. Last week, Reuters picked up a report from the Plain Dealer saying Deshaun Watson held an edge over Shedeur Sanders in the Browns’ quarterback battle. Still, Monken hadn’t named a frontrunner, pushing instead for a clearer picture by minicamp, which runs June 9-11.
Monken isn’t calling the race just yet. “I’m not there yet so I can’t say that,” he said on 92.3 The Fan when pressed about naming a starter before training camp. Three practices this spring, he added, only offered a “40,000 foot view” of the quarterback group. SI
There’s no shortage of options here—Watson, Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, plus rookie Taylen Green are all vying for a spot. Berry, speaking earlier this offseason, made clear Cleveland isn’t rushing into any quarterback choices: “anytime soon.” Just last week, Green joined as a sixth-round pick. Fox News
This isn’t just hype. As Heavy.com points out, the Browns are 8-26 across the last two seasons. Last year, they put up just 16.4 points and 281.8 yards per game—numbers that shed light on why Monken’s offense is under the microscope before September.
Baltimore’s approach goes the opposite direction—less change, more continuity. Campbell, 39, is back with the Ravens on a one-year contract for what will be his 19th NFL season, after he racked up 43 tackles and 6.5 sacks over 17 starts with Arizona last season, Reuters reported.
Ravens coach Minter didn’t hesitate: “We’ve agreed to terms with Calais,” he told Sports Illustrated. He called Campbell “still playing at such an unbelievable level,” noting the veteran’s impact remains strong against the run and the pass. SI
ESPN’s Mina Kimes thinks this could end up being “the best defensive line that Baltimore has fielded in years,” provided Nnamdi Madubuike is back healthy to join Travis Jones and Campbell. According to the Ravens’ own site, they leaned on ESPN Analytics, which put Campbell’s pass-rush win rate at 15%—essentially, that’s the share of snaps where he beats his blocker fast on passing downs. Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore faces its share of uncertainty. Campbell, who hits 40 on Sept. 1, isn’t getting younger, and while the team has called Madubuike’s post-surgery progress “encouraging,” there’s still no guarantee he’ll be ready. Adding a veteran for a year gives them some cover on the roster, but age and health concerns remain. Baltimore Ravens
Cleveland doesn’t really have room for subtlety here. Monken landed the job after putting together successful offenses in Baltimore, but the Browns’ entire year pivots on who ends up under center. Should Watson fail to rediscover his game, and if Sanders doesn’t step up, it won’t just be offseason speculation—questions about Monken and Berry could dominate from the jump.
