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Browns Legend Throws Support Behind Shedeur Sanders Over Deshaun Watson

The Cleveland Browns have four quarterbacks on their roster heading into OTAs two weeks from now, and their fans seem divided on who they want to win the competition.

Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson are believed to be the two frontrunners with 2025 third-round pick Dillon Gabriel and 2026 sixth-round pick Taylen Green also in the mix.

It's been speculated that Watson is the early leader over Sanders despite neither taking any live reps this offseason, but if Browns legend Bernie Kosar had it his way, Sanders would be given the first crack at the team's QB1 job based off his body of work last season.

"I really enjoyed the way Shedeur played at the end of last season," Kosar told Yahoo Sports. "Us quarterbacks, we get too much credit when we win and too much blame when we lose. … We were very void of talent with the Browns on offense last year.

"For Shedeur, to come in as a rookie with a really limited talent roster around him offensively, he certainly made plays. He deserves to be in this mix, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Shedeur get this opportunity early, if he doesn't come out as the Game 1 starter."

Why It Matters

Like most Browns fans, Kosar seemingly wants to see what Sanders can do with a full training camp in which he'd take most, if not all of the first-team reps (Sanders only got third-team reps last year with Joe Flacco, Gabriel, and Kenny Pickett all ahead of him on the depth chart).

After a 1-5 stint by Gabriel last year after the team traded Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals, Sanders showed much more promise during his opportunity. The Colorado alum threw for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also rushed for 169 yards and another touchdown.

If Sanders were to win the starting job out of camp, he has a much better supporting cast this year then he had last year.

Cleveland bolstered its offensive line trading for former first-round tackle Tytus Howard, signing former first-round guard Zion Johnson, former second-round guard Teven Jenkins, and center Elgton Jenkins, and drafting offensive tackles Spencer Fano (Round 1) and Austin Barber (Round 4) plus center Parker Brailsford (Round 5).

The Browns also gave Sanders (or Watson) more weapons to throw to in second-round receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston in addition to Jerry Jeudy and tight end Harold Fannin Jr.

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