There’s no doubt that Kevin Stefanski left more positives than negatives during his time as head coach of the Cleveland Browns. However, the NFL is a very unforgiving league – any mistake is magnified – and Stefanski made a very big one that ultimately cost him his job: the quarterback position.
Shilo Sanders’ unexpected moment with a soldier sparks reactions
Before Kevin Stefanski arrived, the Browns had only made the playoffs a couple of times since returning to Cleveland. Stefanski got them there in both 2020 and 2023. In the first instance, they defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round – the franchise’s first playoff win since 1994.
The major problem came when they moved on from Baker Mayfield after the 2021 season to bet on Deshaun Watson with a massive 5-year, $230 million contract. The move turned out to be a failure. Although Watson remains with the franchise, since signing that deal he has only played 19 games, and the quarterback position has been a complete disaster.
Malik Willis has been recommended to Todd Monken
Currently, the Cleveland Browns have three quarterbacks under contract: Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel. The problem is that none of them are a clear solution. Each has shown flashes of talent, but with each one, there are more questions than answers. That’s why Todd Monken faces a major challenge.
Monken arrived at the Browns after an impressive stint with the Baltimore Ravens, where his work with Lamar Jackson stood out. Under Monken, Jackson was NFL MVP in 2023 and came very close to winning it again in 2024. The quarterback in free agency most similar to Lamar Jackson is Malik Willis, who had an impressive performance with the Packers.
Cleveland Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot revealed that Malik Willis could catch Todd Monken’s eye and become a candidate to join the team: “I would definitely be looking at Malik Willis. He’s somebody I said the Browns should draft in 2022. We know Todd Monken prefers a dual-threat QB… It’s very interesting – both he and Andrew Berry are definitely open to bringing someone else in,” the journalist said.
That’s why, despite all the questions surrounding Shedeur Sanders, and even though he’s a Pro Bowl player, his spot with the Browns isn’t guaranteed. The quarterback position will once again be a key storyline in the preseason, just as it was last season.