As the Browns took to the practice fields at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus, they officially kicked off the first day of veteran mandatory minicamp.
All rostered players were back for the final three days of Phase III the offseason program. Following minicamp, the Browns will break for the remainder of the offseason before players report back for training camp in late July.
"Day one of minicamp in the books," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "Guys are working very hard. Pleased with what we got done today. We'll be back inside for more meetings, a walk through and a bunch of NFL mandatory meetings that we're trying to knock out in this camp and then back out here tomorrow. But, really pleased with the work that the guys put forth today."
Here are some observations from the first day of mandatory minicamp.
Reps for rookie quarterbacks
Rookie QB Shedeur Sanders stole the show on the first day of minicamp during a modified 7-on-7 period, as he threw deep pass downfield to WR Gage Larvadain, who ran into the end zone for a touchdown. He also connected on another pass to WR Diontae Johnson in the same period.
In those modified 7-on-7 drills, Stefanski said they use that method to simulate a team drill without making the drill an 11-on-11. In this modified approach, they use offensive linemen lined up as defensive linemen. Stefanski explained it helps the quarterbacks practice playing on time, spatial awareness, feeling where the guards and tackles will be on the offensive line and finding the throwing lanes. It allows the quarterback to get a feel for the pocket and still give the offensive linemen a chance to work on the blitz pickup.
"Just trying to give them a little bit more of a visual," Stefanski said. "This is just one way that we feel like is valuable, and it's also valuable for our offensive line because they can work their stunts and (run) games during that time."
In a set of 11-on-11 drills, Dillon Gabriel took the first reps in the drill. Then, Sanders took reps in 11-on-11, who handed the ball off to RB Dylan Sampson who took off downfield for s solid gain. He had another rep in which he would have been sacked but found a short pass in the middle of the field. He finished the period with a pass down the sideline to WR Luke Floriea.
"I'm pleased with all the young guys and their development. There's a lot that goes into this and these guys work extremely hard," Stefanski said. "At the quarterback position, there's a lot that goes into it. These guys are all well coached when we get them, but there's things in the NFL game, just the rules are different in some areas. So, I think all these guys are making really good progress."
Red zone drills
In the final period of the first day of minicamp, the Browns ran red zone drills. QB Kenny Pickett took the first set up reps, in which he threw a completed pass to WR Jerry Jeudy and another to WR Kaden Davis for the touchdown. He also connected with Sampson on a pass, who then found a hole in the middle of the field and ran the ball in for a touchdown.
Then, Gabriel took his reps but had a few incompletions before he connected with Floriea on a pass. He closed out his reps with a pass to WR Jamari Thrash in the end zone for the touchdown.
"Felt good," Gabriel said of the throw. "I think Jamari's just a talented individual, just how smart he is and understanding, maybe a man beating play, but to be able to create leverage and win in zone coverage, it allows it to be a lot easier on my end. And then him making an outstanding catch. So, he's great in the time I've been around him and look forward to continuing that."
Sanders closed out the period taking reps, in which he connected first with RB Ahmani Marshall for a short pass and then with Sampson on another short pass, and Sampson worked his way into the end zone. He later connected with WR Kisean Johnson on a pass who ran into the end zone, and another pass to Larvadain.
Offensive and defensive line work
One of the drills during individual periods, the quarterbacks worked with the offensive line and running backs. As the offensive line lined up across one another to replicate facing a defensive lineman, the quarterback called a run play, and the offensive linemen created space for the runner to break through. All four quarterbacks participated in reps of the drill, with two sets of the drill running simultaneously.
The defensive line spent an individual period working with defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire on getting off blocks to rush the passer. They took reps coming from the left and right side to break past Cesaire and tackle the quarterback dummy.
"I like where we are as a defensive unit," DE Myles Garrett said. "It's really firing, really rolling, and I think it's really clicking as far as the scheme and the plays, especially early on. That's big."
Get an inside look at the Cleveland Browns' offseason training as players gear up and go through drills during Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Offensive Coordinator Tommy Rees and Tight end David Njoku (85) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) and Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (1) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Cornerback Tony Brown II (11) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Safety Donovan McMillon (31) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold (42) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Cornerback Tony Brown II (11) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Running Backs Coach Duce Staley during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Bill Willis Diversity Fellow Michael Bearden during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Offensive guard Javion Cohen (67) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Offensive guard Zak Zinter (70) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Offensive tackle Jackson Barton (68) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Offensive guard Teven Jenkins (74) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Offensive guard Brady Latham (64) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Assistant Defensive Line Coach Adam Morris during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Cornerback LaMareon James (27) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Defensive end Julian Okwara (53) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Safety Rayshawn Jenkins (28) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Assistant Offensive Line Coach Ben Wilkerson during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Quarterback Coach Bill Musgrave during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Offensive Coordinator Tommy Rees during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Offensive Assistant Sanders Davis during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
A helmet during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Director of College Scouting Max Paulus during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Wide receiver Jaelen Gill (38) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Wide receiver Gage Larvadain (84) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Safety Damontae Kazee (23) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Defensive end Elerson G. Smith (52) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Safety Damontae Kazee (23) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (90) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Linebacker Jerome Baker (17) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Linebacker Jerome Baker (17) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Wide receiver Diontae Johnson (16) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Linebacker Jerome Baker (17) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (88) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Wide receiver Gage Larvadain (84) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Tight end Brenden Bates (82) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Tight Ends Coach Christian Jones during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Wide receiver Ja'seem Reed (83) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Wide receiver DeAndre Carter (2) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Fullback Troy Hairston (36) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Running back Ahmani Marshall (39) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Assistant Offensive Line Coach Ben Wilkerson during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (5) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Center Ethan Pocic (55) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Wide receiver Diontae Johnson (16) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) and Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Cornerback Nik Needham (25) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Wide receiver Kaden Davis (89) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Wide receiver Luke Floriea (37) and Safety Damontae Kazee (23) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Wide receiver DeAndre Carter (2) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
The scenery during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Cornerback Tony Brown II (11) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (1) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Wide receiver Kaden Davis (89) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Safety Christopher Edmonds (41) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Safety Rayshawn Jenkins (28) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Wide receiver Gage Larvadain (84) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95), Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) and Defensive end Alex Wright (91) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
A tackle machine during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
The scenery during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Cornerback Nik Needham (25) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Safety Damontae Kazee (23) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
Safety Donovan McMillon (31) during the first day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025.
