Cleveland Browns quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders.
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Cleveland Browns quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders.
The Cleveland Browns are headed for one of the most compelling quarterback competitions in the NFL and a veteran insider believes Shedeur Sanders enters with a meaningful edge.
Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com laid out the dynamic of the quarterback competition while appearing on 92.3 The Fan.
“I think it will be wildly entertaining and very heated, very animated. I think it will bring out the best in both of them,” Cabot said. “I think the fact that they both have to learn a brand new offense levels the playing field a little bit. The fact that Shedeur started the final seven games, gives him a little boost. Deshaun having three Pro Bowls on his resume gives him a little bit of an edge. They both bring some fascinating things to the table.”
With the Browns not adding to the quarterback room, multiple reports have indicated that Sanders has the current edge in the quarterback competition.
“Let’s save the wild takes and proclamations for what’s likely going to be an annual reboot of an open quarterback competition. But let’s also pencil Sanders in as the most likely of the current group to take the race wire-to-wire,” Zac Jackson of The Athletic said. “Where it all goes remains to be seen. But Sanders should get the first crack at things as Cleveland proceeds through the offseason.”
Browns Coach Todd Monken Sees Elite Trait in Shedeur Sanders
Sanders’ advantage is straightforward: he’s the incumbent and has played more football than Watson recently. Watson — the Browns $230 million investment — has played in just 19 games since arriving via a blockbuster trade in 2022. He missed all of last season recovering from a pair of Achilles surgeries.
Sanders started seven games as a rookie, posting seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The numbers weren’t pretty but he showed upside and was even named a Pro Bowl replacement. New head coach Todd Monken has been direct about what he sees in Sanders.
“I think what you see is elite playmaking ability. That’s in him,” Monken said. “You’ve seen it. We’ve seen it. You saw it in college. You saw it on tape last year. Sure, there’s a ways to go. But what rookie isn’t, I mean, what first year player doesn’t have a long way to go? So, I’m excited to get started with him and all of our quarterbacks and all of our players.”
Sanders surprising pocket mobility piece also caught his attention.
“He’s got a feel like he does in playmaking. He’s got a real sense in the pocket when it starts to collapse and moving around the pocket, and he made more plays or got himself out of trouble than I would have guessed, than I would have thought even coming out, which was nice to see,” Monken said.
Deshaun Watson’s Case for Browns QB Job
Watson’s case rests almost entirely on pedigree and the hope that he’s truly healthy. In his 19 Browns starts, Watson completed 61 percent of his passes for 3,365 yards, 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He hasn’t played a full season since throwing for 4,823 yards with the Houston Texans in 2020. Monken isn’t writing him off, though.
“I think anytime that you have a player that at one time has exhibited the skillset at an elite level, you’re always going to give them the benefit of the doubt that somehow we’re going to be able to get that out of him,” Monken said.
Neither quarterback has run Monken’s system, which keeps the playing field level. In the end, Cabot said it will come down to what Monken believes will win the Browns games.
“In the final analysis, it will come down to Todd Monken and who he feels will give his team the best chance to win,” she said.
Both quarterbacks have been working this offseason to get ready for the start of team activities in April. Watson has been throwing in Florida with his longtime private QB coach Quincy Avery, working out alongside former Browns quarterbacks Kenny Pickett, Tyrod Taylor and Jacoby Brissett.