Shedeur Sanders will be challenged by Deshaun Watson for the Cleveland Browns starting QB job.
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Shedeur Sanders will be challenged by Deshaun Watson for the Cleveland Browns starting QB job.
The Cleveland Browns remain undecided at quarterback heading into next season, but the financial weight tied to Deshaun Watson could push the team toward giving him another opportunity to prove himself.
Watson is entering the final year of his fully guaranteed $230 million contract with the Cleveland Browns, a deal that has largely failed to deliver on its promise. Even owner Jimmy Haslam publicly acknowledged the move as a “swing and miss,” underscoring just how far expectations have fallen since the blockbuster trade.
With limited alternatives on the roster and no long-term answer firmly in place, Cleveland may feel compelled to see whether Watson can salvage some value from the investment. That logic is shared by longtime Browns reporter Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland, who believes Watson is likely to see the field in 2026.
“If healthy, I would say yes,” Grossi said in a recent Q&A. “They’re paying him $46 million for the fifth and last year. Why wouldn’t they try to get at least some return on that lost investment? If not at the beginning then certainly at some point. The Browns usually go through 3-plus quarterbacks per season.”
That reality — combined with Watson’s looming contract expiration — leaves the door open for one last audition, whether Cleveland plans for it or simply arrives there out of necessity.
Browns Undecided on Shedeur Sanders as QB1
Watson’s presence in the quarterback mix complicates the outlook for Shedeur Sanders, who many as the early favorite to open the season as the Browns’ starter. Sanders took over last year and started the final seven games, going 3-4 while flashing the upside that made him an intriguing developmental option.
The fifth-round pick showed poise and playmaking ability, but his stretch run also included the kind of rookie mistakes that tend to surface with limited experience.
“I think I did what I was able to do, and I definitely grew from a lot of things, and I got experience now. So, I’m always the same, confidence-wise, I’m there,” Sanders said at the end of the season. “But like, that’s not in my hands. Like, that’s not my decision. I can’t speak on what other people feel.”
New Browns head coach Todd Monken said Sanders’ role and the quarterback decision is “to be determined.
“Well, I think like any position on the team, that’s still to be determined. Am I excited about Shedeur? Am I excited about all the quarterbacks in the room? Am I excited to coach this football team? Absolutely,” Monken said. “I can’t wait for them to get back and for us to get started.”
Browns Coach Todd Monken Praises Deshaun Watosn
Watson missed all of last year recovering from a twice-ruptured Achilles. He returned to practice briefly in December but was never activated to the 53-man roster. Watson has played in just 19 games since arriving in Cleveland back in 2022.
But Monken appears intrigued by Watson and his Pro Bowl past with the Houston Texans.
“You’ve got two young players who still have a long way to go in terms of development, and that’s just part of the learning curve in the NFL,” Monken said during an interview with Ashley Holder of Cleveland 19 News. “Then you have a player like Deshaun, who is coming back from injury and was once a Pro Bowl player and an elite player in this league. We would love to tap back into that.”
The Browns may still add another quarterback to the mix, which could change the equation for Watson and Sanders entirely.