Taylen Green makes Browns’ initial 53-man roster

When speaking with the media on Monday, Monken said, “There could be a package where we have (Green)” on the field. Monken also suggested he would prefer to not have three QBs active on game day, which could mean Shedeur Sanders would be a healthy scratch. Even if this were to happen, we shouldn’t assume this means Sanders is behind Green on the depth chart. As long as Deshaun Watson is in the QB1 seat, the Browns’ weekly game plan won’t include Sanders, while Green’s explosiveness on the ground could add another element to the offense in select packages, making him a more valuable option on game days. If Watson were to miss time due to injury or lose the starting job, we would still expect Sanders to be the next man up, with Green continuing to serve in select packages.

In fairness to Monken, it’s not often we see teams keep four QBs on a roster. With Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders already locked into their roles, the question becomes whether or not both Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green make the 53-man roster or if one could be cut/traded. Gabriel turned in a solid outing in the Browns’ final preseason game, throwing for 186 yards and three touchdowns in one half of play, while Green threw for 27 scoreless yards but also rushed for 88 yards on six carries and helped orchestrate a 98-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. With roster cutdown day set for Sunday, Monken and GM Andrew Berry still have a few days to decide the makeup of their QB room before Week 1’s game against the Jaguars.

You can never quite rule out the Browns quarterback situation just taking a weird turn towards Green at some point in the season — the situation is that unsettled — but it appears like this would be the easiest way for the 182nd overall pick to get involved early on in his career. Todd Monken said it’s “probably too early to tell that,” but added that “there would be a possibility of him (in) short yardage ... maybe some third down stuff that we could utilize.” Green is a name to remember for fantasy managers because his athleticism would seem to be an easy key to fantasy points if he can figure out the rest of the quarterback position, but he’s probably just a lottery ticket at this point.

Per Monken, the Browns are working on everything from Green’s “choppy” cadence to his long release. Improving Green’s footwork is on the to-do list as well. It’s easy to see how Green’s gangly frame (6'6/227) lends itself to less-than-crisp dropbacks. Monken also said the team is going to be “really diligent” in trying to quicken Green’s release — he possesses almost a 7-foot wingspan and arms measuring nearly 35 inches. That said, Monken has been “super impressed with his ability to really learn, process and take it to the field and then getting through his progressions.” Green’s chances of being anything more than a preseason DFS darling might be slim, but if he can refine his fundamentals under Monken’s tutelage, the sky’s the limit in fantasy football.

The reports comes in the wake of the team drafting Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green at pick No. 182, bringing the total number of quarterbacks on the roster to four alongside Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, and Gabriel. Watson enters 2026 as the presumed starter considering the hefty financials invested in his services, but to say the situation isn’t fluid is a vast understatement, particularly after the team drafted three quarterbacks in the previous two drafts. Stay tuned, sports fans.

Green (6’6/227) is one of the more impressive athletes we’ve seen at the quarterback position in recent memory. The former Arkansas Razorback blessed a 4.36 40-yard dash at this year’s Scouting Combine, and earned an elite 9.99 RAS after also dominating in the vertical and broad jumps. There’s no question about what Green can offer as an athlete, but his passing profile includes far too many turnovers (47 turnovers in 46 career starts), and a career completion percentage (60.0 percent) that leaves much to be desired. Green played his first three college seasons at Boise State (2021-2023) before transferring to Arkansas, and struggled at times against the higher level of play. After showing a tendency to avoid sacks in 28 games at Boise State, Green was sacked 59 times in 25 games at Arkansas and had a concerning 18.5 percent pressure-to-sack rate in his last two seasons. A decent 2025 season ended with struggles down the stretch, as Green posted a 342-0-3 line on 54 passes in his final three games to end his career. Green’s athleticism makes him an interesting project at the next level, and with some help in his mechanics. It’s possible he could figure things out enough to turn into a quality starter, and that his elite athleticism overcomes his deficiencies as a passer. He’s a prime candidate to redshirt his first season or two while adjusting to the pro game. Green will compete with Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel for reps in 2026.

Green broke the record held by Anthony Richardson with his vertical and also erupted for a 4.36-second 40-yard dash, just 0.03 seconds behind the all-time record for a quarterback set by Michael Vick. The physical specimen quarterback is likely viewed as a developmental prospect in this year’s draft, albeit one that comes with tantalizing upside. There is a case to be made for teams to take that gamble towards the end of the first round come April.

Matthew Stafford, 38, is entrenched as the 2026 starter. Bonsignore writes that “the Rams are already planning for that inevitable transition” that will occur whenever Stafford chooses to retire. Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza is unlikely to be available when the Rams are on the clock with the 13th and 29th first-round picks. Bonsignore singles out Alabama QB Ty Simpson as an option for the Rams, while noting that they will likely take a look at Penn State QB Drew Allar, Miami QB Carson Beck, Arkansas QB Taylen Green, Georgia Tech QB Haynes King, Clemson QB Cade Klubnik and LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier at the upcoming NFL Scouting Combine.

Green is a dual-threat quarterback from Lewisville, Texas, and 247Sports ranks him 24th among signal-callers of that ilk. He picks the Broncos over schools like San Diego State, Baylor, Louisville and Wyoming; among others. The 6-foot-5, 215-pound quarterback is just the fifth known commit for Boise State, but Green is the second-highest rated player in the class; only behind inside linebacker Jai Jones.