RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sourcesBEREA ― The first day the Cleveland Browns were on the field for training camp under Todd Monken wasn't without plenty of news. The thing is, most of it was about off-the-field deals instead of what was happening on the field.
There was cornerback Denzel Ward's new two-year, $62.2 million extension being officially signed. There was safety Grant Delpit getting his new three-year, $48 million extension , which allowed him to end what looked like it was going to be a hold-in of sorts until he got one.
Along with all of that was old friend Jadeveon Clowney making a free-agent visit to the facility as the defensive end potentially could return to the team he played for from 2021-22. Of course, that time ended with him being left in Cleveland for the 2022 season finale in Pittsburgh because of comments he made about the organization and, specifically, Myles Garrett.
All of that was happening as the Browns were taking the field for their first training camp practice. That, of course, opened up the many of the usual questions that have surrounded this team for months.
After 90 minutes on the field, the Browns' first training camp practice under Todd Monken was completed. Here's a few on-the-field takeaways from what happened.
It looked like Day 1 of camp for Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders
The much-ballyhooed quarterback competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders resumed with no clear-cut No. 1 coming into the first practice. It ended with no clear-cut No. 1 as well, not that anyone expected either to claim the title after one practice.
Watson was, as expected, the one up with the No. 1 offensive group. However, Monken did say he expected the two to alternate for as long as it took for one of them to clearly claim the starter's job.
If there was a winner to be declared, it would have to go to Sanders. It wasn't that the second-year pro was sensational, it was just that his performance was clearly better than what Watson did over the course of the day.
Watson struggled not just with multiple interceptions, including on back-to-back plays by Ward and Damarri Mathis. He also struggled with off-target throws throughout.
Sanders had the best throw of the day, a go route to rookie KC Concepcion down the right sideline during a 7-on-7 period. He also had a throw earlier where he layered it over a defender to rookie Denzel Boston on an out route.
Again, it's not just one day, but it's the first day, so nothing's getting settled by what happened. Day 2 will have Sanders working with the No. 1s on one field and Watson with the twos on the other when the team two-spots, another opportunity for both.
Dawand Jones works with No. 1s at left tackle; Spencer Fano with No. 2s
The end of the offseason program in mid-June seemed to indicate that rookie first-round pick Spencer Fano was starting to seize control of the left tackle position. Certainly, it seemed like that's the way it was trending.
Then, on the first day of training camp, it was fourth-year pro Dawand Jones working the entire time with the No. 1 offensive line that also included left guard Zion Johnson, center Elgton Jenkins, right guard Teven Jenkins and right tackle Tytus Howard. Fano, meanwhile, was working with the No. 2 offensive line.
The decision, however, follows along the same thinking as was used with the quarterbacks. The Browns did the same thing with the two tackles during minicamp, alternating them each day.
The expectation isn't just that Fano will be working with the "No. 1" offense next, but it's likely going to be true also for rookie fifth-round center Parker Brailsford. Brailsford and Fano were joined on the No. 2 line by left guard Zak Zinter, right guard KT Leveston and fellow rookie Austin Barber at right tackle.
Running back Dylan Sampson shows a little giddy-up
The talk around the running back position has centered on Quinshon Judkins, and rightfully so. The former second-round pick was returning from an ankle injury that ended what had been a promising rookie season.
However, the back who may have stolen the show on day one was another second-year pro. Fourth-round pick Dylan Sampson didn't participate in any on-field drills during the offseason program due to an undisclosed injury.
Sampson was a full participant in the first training camp practice, and looked a lot like the talented running back who was the 2024 SEC Offensive Player of the Year at the University of Tennessee. While the 5-foot-8, 200-pound Sampson will never be confused with Judkins in terms of being a power back, what he did show a lot of was burst, especially when he was hitting the corner on a stretch play.
It would be a huge development for the Browns' offense, if for no other reason than how it could take some of the load off Judkins' shoulders.
Nearly full participation for Day 1 of Todd Monken's 1st training camp
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins remains on a track to return to the field at some point, even as he starts training camp on the active/physically unable to perform list. Monken, for one, seemed to indicate it could be sooner rather than later.
Rookie sixth-round tight end Joe Royer was the only other player who was not on the field due to personal reasons. Cornerback Damarri Mathis and defensive tackle Kalia Davis each left the field with a trainer during practice, although neither appeared to be dealing with anything signifcant.
Otherwise, it had to mark one of the highest participation rates for a first training camp practice in some time. It will be key for the Browns that it remains that way moving forward.
Monken may push the limits when it comes to how long the team will be on the field on a given day. However, even he acknowledged that he wasn't going to be stupid when it came to the full-contact drills.
“No, we won’t tackle to the ground," Monken said. "We won’t go to the ground, we’ll thud. We’re not goi...
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