Deshaun Watson vs Shedeur Sanders: Browns QB undecided
Neither Deshaun Watson nor Shedeur Sanders has been named the Cleveland Browns' Week 1 starter. First-year coach Todd Monken left the QB1 job open after spring practices, saying both are starting-caliber and he wants to see them in pads—and possibly preseason games—before deciding.
Key Takeaways
- The Browns enter 2026 training camp with an open competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders for the starting quarterback job.
- Monken called both "starting-level" passers but declined to name a QB1 after OTAs and minicamp.
- Watson is healthy after missing 2025 with a torn Achilles; Sanders started Cleveland's final seven games last season.
- The duo co-hosted a Miami passing camp with teammates, signaling chemistry even as they battle for the job.
- Some analysts argue starting Watson over Sanders would be a mistake, but the coaching staff has not tipped its hand.
Who has the edge between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders?
According to ESPN, Watson and Sanders split first-team reps throughout spring practices. Monken said he has two starting-caliber quarterbacks yet held off on crowning a QB1 until padded work—and maybe preseason games.
Watson, 30, has played only 19 games since Cleveland acquired him in 2022 on a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million deal. He is 9-10 as a Brown with 19 touchdown passes. His 33.1 Total QBR since his Cleveland debut would rank last among qualifying quarterbacks if he had enough starts to qualify. A torn Achilles that required two surgeries kept him out of the 2025 season. He is now healthy, and coaches praised his form and athleticism in the spring.
Sanders, 24, opened 2025 as an inactive emergency option after taking zero first-team camp reps as a fifth-round pick. He debuted in Week 11 against Baltimore (4-of-16, 47 yards, one interception), then won his first start versus Las Vegas. He stayed QB1 for the final seven games, finishing 3-4 with late wins over Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. Coaches have praised his grasp of Monken's offense and quicker decisions this offseason, though his 3.24-second average time to throw was the longest among 38 quarterbacks with at least six starts in 2025.
Why hasn't Todd Monken named a starter yet?
For the second straight year, Cleveland is running an open QB1 competition in camp. Monken, the former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator, abandoned plans to name a starter after June minicamp. "I think they both can start and play winning football," he said, adding he cannot decide until pads are on.
During OTAs he admitted leaning "one way or the other" day to day but remained "fired up" by having two starting-level quarterbacks. Training camp opens with the fight unsettled, and the competition could stretch through three preseason games. The room also includes Dillon Gabriel, a 2025 third-rounder with six rookie starts, and 2026 sixth-rounder Taylen Green.
Fans following celebrity breaking news will recognize the stakes: Watson's massive contract and past Pro Bowl pedigree versus Sanders' late-2025 momentum and Deion Sanders-fueled spotlight.
What does the Miami camp say about the Browns' QB race?
Cleveland.com reported that Watson and Sanders co-hosted a joint passing camp in Miami for offensive teammates, including Jerry Jeudy, Isaiah Bond, Cedric Tillman and others. Drills were run by Watson's private coach Quincy Avery, with dinners and off-field bonding. Sanders said they never considered separate sessions: "Nah, we're all team."
Both also worked at the Browns facility during the six-week summer break before camp. Outside voices have been sharper. Yahoo Sports Daily guests argued that starting Deshaun Watson over Shedeur Sanders would be "embarrassing," framing Sanders as the better path to fix the offense—commentary that underscores public pressure, not an official depth-chart move.
Bottom line: Week 1 QB1 remains undecided. Pads and preseason will decide whether Deshaun Watson reclaims the job or Sanders holds off the veteran.