The college coach of a Browns QB visited OTAs, and it wasn’t Deion Sanders

Dabo Swinney beat Coach Prime to the punch.
One day after Browns head coach Todd Monken said he was looking forward to meeting with Deion Sanders, who wanted to share insight about his son, Shedeur, Deshaun Watson’s college coach showed up at the Browns’ last full OTA work day on Thursday.
Coincidence … or not?
Actually, it was.
Swinney has visited Browns’ practices before and is familiar with members of the Browns’ scouting staff. He won his first national college championship at Clemson in 2017 with Watson throwing for 420 yards in a 35-31 comeback victory over Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide.
At this stage of Watson’s NFL career, which begins its 10th season in 2026, Swinney doesn’t need to tout Watson to Monken while the new Browns’ coach is deciding his starting quarterback for his first season. That wasn’t the intent of Swinney’s visit.
On the other hand …
Last month, in an appearance on “The Barbershop” podcast with Garrett Bush, Sanders said he hoped to meet with Monken – as Shedeur’s coach and “not a dad” – to “tell him a few things about [Shedeur], how to get him going.”
After Browns OTA practice on Wednesday, Monken said, “First of all, I can’t wait. I, first of all, got a lot of respect for Coach[Deion] Sanders, obviously as a player, but also what he’s done as a coach, and obviously, he’s done a great job with Shedeur as a father. I’m open anytime he wants to meet.”
Monken said a visit with Sanders did not happen previously because Sanders had a conflict to film a commercial.
“So if he just let me know where the next commercial shoot is, I’ll be there. I’ll show up. I am really looking forward to it,” Monken said.
The Browns’ quarterback competition is winding down. There are only three more practices – at next week’s mandatory minicamp – before the Browns go on summer break. Monken previously said he would like to have a No. 1 and No. 2 quarterback determined for the start of training camp.
On Wednesday, Monken said, “I think both quarterbacks have played well enough where we haven’t really been in pads. We haven’t played any games yet … haven’t really got to that point yet. Every day I kind of lean one way or the other with quarterbacks.
“I think both of them are doing exactly what we’re asking to do and competing like hell.”
Neither quarterback’s college coach will factor into Monken’s decision, of course. But it was funny that Watson’s college coach showed up before Sanders’.
Step it up
Browns player reaction to the Myles Garrett trade has been somewhat muted because of limited media access this time of year.
Of the players made available to media on Wednesday, defensive end Alex Wright had the strongest reaction.
“I was shocked, just like anyone else,” Wright said. “Still trying to process it. I grew up with him and pretty much used him as sponge. Realizing he’s not going to be here, somebody has to take charge. Me, I’m taking on that ownership.”
Wright, 25, a third-round pick in 2022, is now the most-tenured of the Browns’ edge rushers. He earned a second contract last year, worth $33 million through 2027.
While Wright grieved the loss of Garrett for a while, he was rejuvenated by the arrival of Jared Verse, the key component of the trade for the Browns. Wright and Verse are now the bookend edge rushers of the Browns’ present and future.
“Me and him most likely going to spend a lot of time together,” Wright said. “Jared, we didn’t get no scrub. We got an absolute dog. I don’t expect a dropoff at all. Especially because me being here so long, I wouldn’t let that happen.
“If I don’t see something I don’t like, I will say, ‘Rudy [defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg], we have to start this off. Monk, we have to start this over.’ Just because [Garrett’s] gone doesn’t mean there’s going to be a drop-off. I won’t let that happen.”
Just fix my slice
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger learned of the Garrett trade at the Browns Foundation golf outing at Firestone Country Club on Monday.
“Obviously, it’s news, but I was excited to golf, so I was trying to figure out how to fix my slice. That’s what was going through my mind,” he said.
Like Wright, Schwesinger is more concerned about the future than the past after the trade of Garrett. And the future is Verse.
“I think we’re getting a great player,” Schwesinger said. “So I’m looking forward to working with him and getting him in this defense and get rolling.
“He’s going to be someone that’s real valuable to what we do and fit right in, and I think being able to work with him will be a lot of fun.
He’s a great player. If you turn on a game, you saw the impact he made. When you get a player like that, you’re pumped.”