The Cleveland Browns entered last training camp with four quarterbacks on the roster. They have three now, but only two look like realistic candidates to start.
Shedeur Sanders started the last seven games of last season, and Deshaun Watson is back to full strength after one season away with a major injury.
That, plus the lack of available money and high-end options, might force the team into a two-man race for the starting spot. According to Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot, the team may not consider adding another quarterback to the mix this offseason.
“I came away from Indy thinking that the Browns were ready to go forward with Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders and see what they could do with those two guys in a competition,” Cabot said on 92.3 The Fan “…But, once again, anything can change on a dime when we get to this point in the NFL season.”
Watson hasn’t lived up to the expectations since his now-infamous trade to Cleveland, but he’s still a proven veteran who might bring his career back to life with Todd Monken at the helm.
Sanders, on the other hand, gives the team a potential long-term option on a team-friendly deal, but he also comes with major red flags, as he may not be ready to embrace that role yet.
The Browns will have nine draft picks, including two in the first round, but there aren’t many ‘can’t-miss’ quarterback prospects in this class. And with Kyler Murray and Malik Willis at the top of most teams’ shopping lists, they might not have a chance to get the two most-coveted candidates.
Of course, anything can happen in this league, and GM Andrew Berry has had multiple aces of his sleeve in his tenure in charge of the organization. For now, it looks like Sanders will have a fair shot to hold onto the starting job for a little longer.
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