The Cleveland Browns had a busy week as the team capped off its head coaching search by hiring Todd Monken, last seen as offensive coorindator of the Baltimore Ravens.
While it may have been an … untraditional … process, one that did not lead to a young and innovative head coach, it may turn out that Monken is the right head coach for the Browns. He is experienced, highly regarded among his peers, has an eye for offense, and his no-nonsense approach should play well in the weekly meetings with the press.
The other big news of the week is that Shedeur Sanders – who completed 57 percent of his passes, threw 10 interceptions, and posted an EPA/dropback of -0.21 – made the Pro Bowl! As a quarterback!
At least that is better than the offseason that fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel is having, as he has completely disappeared from view, unlike Sanders, who just happened to be in the building on Friday when Monken arrived at team headquarters in Berea.
OK, enough looking back at the week that was. Let’s start the final Saturday of January with a look at the lastest news about the Browns and the NFL in today’s edition of the Saturday Dawg Chow.
Dawgs By Nature
- Browns will add a ton of cap space with NFL salary cap news (Chris Pokorny) – Each year, the NFL tends to set the official salary cap for the upcoming season in late February. However, according to a report, they have at least given an estimated range to clubs, and that means the Cleveland Browns (and the other 31 teams) will be gaining a considerable amount of cap space for 2026.
- 5-win Browns helped produce 2 Pro Bowl QBs this year (Jared Mueller) – The Cleveland Browns may have only won 5 games this year but QBs Shedeur Sanders, Joe Flacco are now Pro Bowlers.
- Browns’ Myles Garrett gets to the Hall of Fame – before Bill Belichick (Chris Pokorny) – Myles Garrett has officially entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Of course, he’s not inducted yet, but if you are venturing to Akron/Canton any time soon, you can get an up-close look at history as Garrett’s uniform from his record-breaking 23rd sack is on display.
- Browns HC Todd Monken receives endorsement from national title-winning coach (Matthew Wilson) – Nothing but excellent things have been said about new Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken since he was hired, and one of his former employers just gave him another spectacular endorsement.
- Browns draft prep: WRs to watch at the 2026 Senior Bowl (Thomas Moore) – Cleveland needs wide receivers, so here is who they will be watching at the annual Senior Bowl.
- Browns draft prep: TEs to watch at the 2026 Senior Bowl (Thomas Moore) – Cleveland could be on the hunt for a tight end, so here is who they will be watching at the annual Senior Bowl.
- Browns draft prep: QBs to watch at the 2026 Senior Bowl (Thomas Moore) – Cleveland still needs a quarterback, so here is who they will be watching at the annual Senior Bowl.
- Browns coaching staff: New offensive coordinator has strong run game resume, is former Akron O-lineman (Jared Mueller) – Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken is reportedly bringing Travis Switzer over from the Baltimore Ravens to be his offensive coordinator.
Cleveland Browns
- Browns coach Todd Monken to Shedeur Sanders: ‘We tried to draft your a–‘ (Beacon Journal) – Todd Monken is in his new office. That’s the easy part for the new Cleveland Browns coach. The Browns posted a series of videos the morning of Jan. 30 showing Monken arriving in Cleveland and getting settled into his new digs, including a meeting with quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
- What Todd Monken needs to do to win over skeptical fans (Browns Zone) – For angry and frustrated Browns fans — is there another kind these days? — it’s easy to focus on what new coach Todd Monken isn’t.
- Browns’ odd process that led to Todd Monken bears question: Do they know what they want? (The Athletic) – The stories that emerge years after a Cleveland Browns coaching search are legendary. They are the types of Easter eggs people within the building can’t wait to crack open and share when they get out, and the morsels that reporters and readers love to consume.
- NOACA committee that once held up Browns Brook Park traffic plan gives OK (cleveland.com) – The package of road improvements proposed by Brook Park near the site of the Clevleand Browns’ new stadium received the signoff Friday from a regional planning committee that previously put things on hold for more study.
NFL
- This head coach hiring cycle is nearly complete. What did we learn? (The Ringer) – A quarter of the league has already hired a new head coach. Two jobs remain open. Let’s catch up on all the news from a chaotic coaching carousel.
- Minnesota Vikings fire GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah (Daily Norseman) – With the start of NFL free agency about six weeks away and the Minnesota Vikings facing a number of roster questions, the team has made a move that pretty much nobody saw coming.
- NFL offseason: Ranking every head coaching hire since 2021 (ESPN) – For the 10 NFL teams that either hired or are about to hire a new head coach this offseason, Super Bowl LX is the blueprint for how quickly things can change if they make the right calls.
- Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield believes WR Mike Evans will return to Tampa Bay in 2026 (NFL.com) – Tampa Bay’s disappointing finish to the 2025 season came with extra melancholy: It may have been the last time Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans shared a field in the NFL.
