The offseason is officially over. As of now, all 32 teams have reported for training camp. The Cleveland Browns started their 2026 campaign last week when the team practiced for the first time under 1st-year head coach Todd Monken. This offseason, the team underwent multiple changes, but the one that everyone will pay close attention to is the quarterback situation. Deshaun Watson will try to salvage his football career, while Shedeur Sanders will try to prove he can be a long-term starter in the NFL,
while Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green are also on the depth chart.
The last time Watson played, the tape he put up was atrocious. As for Sanders, the tape wasn’t great; he showed small flashes, but it wasn’t enough to outweigh the bad. Watson or Sanders will get a fair opportunity to win the job, but which quarterback will the team benefit from if they were to get the nod? GM Andrew Berry and Monken both have said it’s all about production, but will the decision be more nuanced than that?
For Watson, it’s his last chance to prove he can play in the NFL. Since being traded to the Browns in a blockbuster deal, he hasn’t been anything close to the Pro Bowl play we saw during his tenure with the Houston Texans. An argument can be made that Watson’s first full year as the starter, after missing half of the season due to his suspension the year prior, showed signs of competency. The layoff was evident, but as the 2023 season went on, Watson showed signs of the old Watson at times.
However, injuries hampered the QB relatively quickly; then he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury, but the team managed to get to the postseason despite that. Watson came back in 2024, but he was a shell of himself before tearing his Achilles. His decision-making looked worse, his athleticism began to dip, and his arm strength started to diminish. Watson didn’t play the entire 2025 season as he recovered from his Achilles tear.
In terms of benefits, Cleveland gets little to no benefit starting Watson mainly due to the fact that the team is in year two of a rebuild. If winning games was the priority, and Watson won the job by a decent margin, his starting would make sense.
From a personal standpoint, Watson has a lot he can benefit from. If the veteran QB goes out there and puts up adequate tape, it’s possible he can get another contract for another team, as the Browns will likely move on from Watson no matter what. It won’t be the contract he wants, but it’s better than being out of the league entirely.
Sanders is entering Year 2 of his tenure in Cleveland. The young phenom, who was taken in the 5th round, is probably the most polarizing figure that is on the Browns. In terms of his popularity, he is probably the most popular player on the team for reasons that aren’t football-related. Sanders is active in the community.
Sanders’ play on the field didn’t inspire much confidence in most fans and analysts, but a majority of the fans saw something the Browns can work with. As a whole, Cleveland’s offense was abysmal last season, but Sanders didn’t do enough to make the offense look better. Sanders struggled playing within the structure of the offense, held the ball too long, and often made poor decisions. It’s well documented that the Browns viewed Sanders as a project, but due to quarterback Dillon Gabriel suffering a concussion at home against the Baltimore Ravens, Sanders was thrust into the spotlight.
If Sanders were to win the starting job, he would have to prove that he is capable of being a starter in the NFL for the long haul. Teams rarely commit to a 5th-round pick, and Sanders is no exception. The Browns have two 1st-round picks in this upcoming NFL draft, and the team would spend a pick on a quarterback if the opportunity presents itself.
Sanders can benefit from playing with a better offensive supporting cast, but he has to show growth for the Browns to commit long-term to him.
Big picture, it is in Cleveland’s best interest if Sanders (or Gabriel for that matter) wins the starting job in 2026.
What do you think should matter for the Browns QB decision? Is it just 2026 and “production,” or should the long-term view take an important role?
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