Bleacher Report NFL insider James Palmer reported in his Insider Notebook that Deshaun Watson currently leads the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback competition, and cited Todd Monken’s offensive scheme as a factor working in Watson’s favor.
Palmer was direct that the Browns have not confirmed Watson’s status publicly and that his assessment comes from his own sourcing. “Deshaun Watson seems to be the leader in the clubhouse, from my understanding,” Palmer said. “The Browns aren’t outright saying that. That’s just from the information I’ve gathered.”
“If we look at the system they’re playing in, I think that plays a factor in this as well. Todd Monken’s always run a system that is under center, a lot of packages there, and then he wants the QB to spread it out and have some option packages. Monken has made it very clear that he loves the idea of quarterbacks getting more and more athletic, and being able to move around, and allowing them to have some fun playing when you spread things out for your quarterback. That is much more Deshaun Watson than it is Shedeur Sanders, even with the injuries Deshaun Watson has gone through. If Deshaun Watson was himself, 100%, it fits Todd Monken’s system more than Shedeur’s system.”
Jun 11, 2026; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Watson completed 90 of 133 passes in OTAs and minicamp
.@JamesPalmerTV of Bleacher Report said Todd Monken’s offensive scheme appears to favor Deshaun Watson, noting the system’s emphasis on mobility, under-center concepts, and quarterback movement aligns more naturally with Watson’s skill set than Shedeur Sanders’.
“Deshaun Watson… pic.twitter.com/5toumjc51I
— BrownsNation.com (@BrownsNationcom) July 20, 2026
Through the offseason program, Watson completed 90 of 133 passes with 13 touchdowns and three interceptions in team drills, while Sanders went 79 of 113 with five touchdowns and three interceptions. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported separately that Watson carries a mobility advantage while Sanders’ strengths are accuracy and decisiveness. Palmer also noted in a separate Bleacher Report live stream that Sanders had “closed the gap” on Watson heading into camp, acknowledging that the competition remained genuinely open despite Watson’s reported edge.
Bleacher Report colleague Brad Gagnon has taken a different position entirely, predicting Sanders will pull a camp upset and claim the starting job.
Jun 11, 2026; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) during minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Also, ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio floated the possibility that Watson’s reported early advantage was a deliberate tactic by Monken to motivate Sanders.
Watson is in the final year of his five-year, $230 million contract. Sanders, the fifth overall pick in the 2025 draft, started seven games as a rookie and posted 1,400 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Training camp opens next week in Berea. Palmer’s report is the most specific sourced claim yet that the competition has a current leader heading into it.
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