Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders will have to hold off Deshaun Watson for the starting job.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders will have to hold off Deshaun Watson for the starting job.
Deshaun Watson could have the early edge over Shedeur Sanders in the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback competition.
According to Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports, there is a growing belief inside the building that Watson could make a serious push for the starting job in 2026.
“First-year Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken sees promise in second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders, league sources say. But Sanders will not be handed the starting quarterback job,” Epstein said. “And some sources with knowledge of the Browns’ conversations wonder if he’ll even beat out in-house options.”
That’s a significant development for a quarterback room that most assumed would be Sanders’ to lose heading into Year 2. But Monken himself also dubbed it an “open competition” while speaking at the NFL Combine.
“I mean, I don’t why it wouldn’t be an open competition,” Monken said. “I don’t mean that saying it harshly, but I don’t think there’s enough on film over the last couple years one way or the other to say, boy, we have our starter at quarterback yet. Whether internally or externally.”
Browns QB Deshaun Watson Comes With Uncertainty
The uncertainty surrounding Sanders isn’t about a lack of potential. The rookie showed clear playmaking ability in his time on the field and the Browns have acknowledged the growth he showed during his first season. Sanders went 3-4 in his seven starts, passing for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Watson has been anything but reliable since arriving in Cleveland via a blockbuster trade in 2022, appearing in just 19 games in four seasons. He missed all of last year recovering from a pair of Achilles surgeries. But the belief inside the building is that the talent is still there and he could shine in a quarterback competition.
“An open competition could favor Watson, whose athletic ceiling and processing ceiling each surpass those of Sanders, league talent evaluators say,” Epstein said.
Watson hasn’t played a full season since 2020, when he led the league with 4,823 passing yards. But his December practice window performance reportedly turned heads inside the building. Watson is also owed $46 million guaranteed this season, regardless of whether he plays, giving the Browns a financial incentive to see what they have in him.
Browns Want Starter Before Training Camp
Monken has praised Sanders’ elite playmaking ability while acknowledging the second-year passer still has “a ways to go.” He’s also expressed a genuine interest in what Watson can bring after being away from the game for an extended period. The timeline for a decision on QB1 is unclear, but Monken has an ideal situation in mind.
“You would hope that by the time you get to training camp, that the reps that you’re giving to a quarterback is for your starter,” Monken said. “Whether we get to that place, I don’t know.”
Even with Watson potentially emerging as a contender, Cleveland isn’t done exploring options. The Browns have been linked to free agent Malik Willis and soon-to-be available passer Kyler Murray, among others. Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson, who is seeking a trade, could also be in the mix.
Next year’s draft class is widely regarded as stronger at quarterback, which could push Cleveland toward a bridge option — like Watson — this season. Watson is heading into the final year of his $230 million fully guaranteed deal with Cleveland.
Meanwhile, Dillon Gabriel remains on the roster, but his future with the team is uncertain, with reports suggesting the Browns view him as a backup at best.