The Cleveland Browns finished with a 5-12 record last season and missed the playoffs. One of the weaknesses of this football team last season was the quarterback position. Cleveland started three different quarterbacks a season ago. Joe Flacco, Shedeur Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel all started for them at one point in the season.
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Nov 23, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson watches on the sidelines against the Las Vegas Raiders in the second half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
As the offseason approaches, the Browns have to decide whether to play Sanders, Gabriel, or maybe even Deshaun Watson next season. Watson did not play a single down this season because of injury. Well, a shocking report came out of Cleveland’s camp on Tuesday night. Adam Schefter of espn.com posted on his Twitter page, “Browns GM Andrew Berry indicated that Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson will be among those competing to be Cleveland’s starting QB in 2026.” This is certainly something else. It appears as if general manager Andrew Berry is being a puppet for owner Jimmy Haslam. The fact that the Browns changed head coaches from Kevin Stefanski to Todd Monken may not even matter.
Cleveland Browns Fans Furious With Reports About Deshaun Watson Competing For the 2026 Starting Role
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Sep 7, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during the second half against the Cincinnati Bengals at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Browns fans have to be furious with the fact that Watson is in the equation to be the starting quarterback in 2026 over Sanders. Sanders did struggle last season no doubt, but having Watson still on the roster is certainly a choice from this organization. This is what some Browns fans had to say about the latest reports:
Of course Watson will win the job based on the fact that the Brown still owe him what feels like billions of dollars. Hoping they can get some value and trade him.
— Lorenzo Maldonado (@TheRealLoDown) February 25, 2026
Watson still on the roster because that contract is basically a lifetime membership. Shedeur better bring his A-game or it’s another year of expensive backup QB theater.
— Lyon (@Lyon970) February 25, 2026
Cleveland putting Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson in the same quarterback competition is the most chaotic roster decision of the offseason. One is a top draft prospect and the other is a former franchise quarterback with a complicated recent history. That competition room is…
— smv (@slimvnsn) February 25, 2026
Deshaun Watson is crazy. Dude rode the bench all last season with an injury from the season before and he is STILL going to be employed on the same team.
— Carter Speer (@CommanderSpeer) February 25, 2026
If this is accurate, it raises serious questions about direction and accountability within the organization.
Cleveland Browns cannot afford another season of uncertainty at quarterback. Framing 2026 as an open competition between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson sounds less…
— Smartson (@mcfc_son) February 25, 2026
Things are never going to change within the organization as long as Haslam is the owner of this football team. They traded for Watson with the Houston Texans a few years ago and then gave him that ridiculous guaranteed contract. There is no doubt that 2026 training camp is going to be another soap opera quarterback battle. It appears as if Gabriel is going to be out of the picture. Having Sanders and Watson compete for the job is insane because they don’t want to find an external option for now.
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