Chad Johnson believes Shedeur Sanders will eventually take Deshaun Watson’s job as the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback.
Watson missed the entire 2025 season recovering from a re-ruptured Achilles, following an initial tear in 2024. The veteran signal-caller is now fully healthy entering the fifth and final year of his fully guaranteed $230 million contract.
Joe Flacco opened the 2025 season as Cleveland’s starter. Sanders waited his turn through the first 10 games before earning his shot in Week 11.
He threw for 1,400 yards. The 24-year-old completed 56.6% of his passes and tossed seven touchdowns against 10 interceptions across seven starts. He added 169 rushing yards and a rushing TD.
Clebveland Browns QB Shedeur S.
Johnson, also known as Ochocinco, sees Watson as the favorite but does not think the job is safe for long.Sanders’ late-season emergence gave that skepticism plenty of fuel.
Appearing on the “Nightcap” podcast, Johnson made a bold claim about the Browns’ quarterback situation.
“Cleveland Browns fan or not, Deshaun Watson is the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns,” he said. “The job that Deshaun Watson is going to get, Uncle Joe, it is his job to lose. He has six weeks.”
“Deshaun Watson is the starting QB for the Cleveland Browns,” – @ochocinco breaks down what he’s hearing about the Browns QB battle.
Ocho says that Watson will get 6 weeks of the season to prove he’s the starter, and if not, Shedeur will take over.
(via @NightcapShow_) pic.twitter.com/YEc7XIHDyX
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) June 21, 2026
Ochocinco Says Shedeur Sanders Is a Better Fit for Cleveland Browns’ Offense Than Deshaun Watson
The situation grew more interesting when new Browns head coach Todd Monkendeclined to name a starter following mandatory minicamp.
Johnson believes Watson is working on borrowed time and could soon find himself in a backup role.
“I guarantee you, listen to me now, I’m telling you, I’m calling it right now,” he said. “Uncle Joe, he has six weeks to make sure that team is playing above or better than whatever the expectations may be for that team and that quarterback. If he’s not, Shedeur Sanders will fall in line as the backup and be the starter for the remainder of this season.”
Watson’s four-year tenure in Cleveland has not gone as planned. In 19 games, he went 9-10 with a 61% completion rate, 3,365 yards, 19 TDs and 12 INTs.
If Watson cannot rediscover his Pro Bowl form, Sanders will be waiting in the wings.