The Cleveland Browns’ search for a long-term solution at quarterback continues as rookie Shedeur Sanders prepares to start his third NFL game in Week 14. Third-round pick Dillon Gabriel has failed to make an impact, and while Sanders sparked excitement by winning his first start, he has yet to prove he is the franchise’s answer under center.
Adding to the pressure, the Browns recently opened the practice window for veteran quarterback Deshaun Watson. If Sanders fails to elevate his play in the coming weeks, one analyst claims the Browns could give Watson another run under center.
Would The Browns Bench Shedeur Sanders For Deshaun Watson?
Technically, Watson remains the Browns’ franchise quarterback, but injuries and inconsistent performance have left the Browns searching for alternatives. However, with both rookies failing to make a statement so far, PFSN’s Anthony Pasciolla believes the Browns should try Watson again.
“Watson is earning a ridiculous amount of money from the Browns,” Pasciolla wrote. “He signed a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract in March 2022, which he is in the fourth season of. Despite this, Watson has appeared in just 19 games for Cleveland. This, along with the possibility of Sanders continuing to perform at a mediocre level, could tempt the Browns to give Watson another shot at being the starter.”
The 2022 blockbuster trade that brought Watson to Cleveland, costing three first-round picks, a 2023 third-rounder, and fourth-rounders in 2022 and 2024, alongside a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract, remains controversial. But the ship hasn’t sailed entirely yet, and the 30-year-old Watson can still change the narrative.
However, the likelihood of that seems very low, with Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot also reporting that Sanders will be the starter for the rest of the season.
The former Colorado star has been decent in his two starts so far, winning one of them and throwing for two touchdowns and one interception in those two games. He has seemingly already made major progress from his debut, when he replaced Gabriel, who suffered a concussion. His disastrous first appearance included completing just four of 16 passing attempts for 47 yards and an interception.
The rookie has finished as the 15th and 24th-ranked weekly quarterback in PFSN’s Impact Rankings, so he still has plenty of room to grow. His best path for doing so is likely to continue starting and gaining in-game experience, but Watson’s potential return could halt his progress this year.
Even so, if struggles continue and the Browns opt to bench him, moving from Sanders to Watson would certainly be a better option than reverting to Gabriel.
