What happened: The Cleveland Browns officially opened their three-day mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, marking the first time the full roster has gathered under new head coach Todd Monken. The session featured the initial stages of a wide-open quarterback competition and the integration of a revamped defensive front following the offseason departure of Myles Garrett.
Why it matters: This camp serves as a critical evaluation period for sophomore Shedeur Sanders, who is reportedly pushing veteran Deshaun Watson for the starting role in Monken's new offensive scheme. Defensively, the team is transitioning leadership to 2025 Defensive Rookie of the Year Carson Schwesinger, who anchors a unit alongside newly acquired Jared Verse as the franchise enters a post-Garrett era.
By the numbers: Schwesinger led all NFL rookies in 2025 with 146 total tackles and 11 tackles for loss. The Browns defense enters 2026 as the first unit since 1967 to roster back-to-back Defensive Rookies of the Year (Verse, 2024; Schwesinger, 2025).
What to watch: The team will hold two more sessions through Thursday before breaking for the summer ahead of late July training camp.