The quarterback battle in Cleveland between veteran Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders has become one of the biggest storylines of the 2026 preseason.
Sanders entered training camp with plenty of attention after a mildly encouraging rookie season, but Carolina Panthers legend Steve Smith Sr. believes there is still one area where the young quarterback trails Watson.
Steve Smith Sr. Breaks Down Shedeur Sanders’ Gap to Deshaun Watson
Browns head coach Todd Monken named Watson the starter for Cleveland’s preseason opener against the Chicago Bears, while Sanders is expected to start the following game against the Buffalo Bills.
Sanders has looked good in camp, completing nearly 70% of his passes while limiting turnovers. Still, Watson’s experience has helped him operate the first-team offense at a quicker pace, giving the veteran an early advantage in the race to start Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
After looking closely at both quarterbacks, Smith identified processing speed and decision-making as the biggest differences between them.
“Shedeur isn’t running the same amount of plays because he has to get the play in faster; he has to get guys lined up. So he’s a little bit slower on that. Todd Monken’s like, ‘I’m not gonna discredit him.’ Because training camp’s about putting as much pressure on a guy and seeing how he handles it,” Smith said on First Take.
Shedeur Sanders Isn’t Running The Same Amount Of Plays As Deshaun Watson Because He’s A Little Bit Slower With The Process. Per, @SteveSmithSr89
“Shedeur isn’t running the same amount of plays because he has to get the play in faster, he has to get guys lined up. So he’s a… pic.twitter.com/67sVttz0h2
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) August 13, 2026
The point isn’t that Sanders lacks the talent to play at the NFL level. Rather, Smith believes the young quarterback is still learning how quickly everything needs to click at the professional level.
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One of Watson’s biggest advantages is his experience.
After years of playing in the NFL, Watson has seen enough defensive looks to recognize changes before the snap and react quickly once the ball is snapped.
Sanders is still learning those nuances. That can show up in small ways. A quarterback might hold the ball an extra beat while confirming coverage or take slightly longer to get the offense organized at the line.
At the NFL level, those fractions of a second can make a major difference.
Sanders has already shown that he has the physical tools to compete. Now, he needs to prove that he can process the game quickly enough to challenge Watson for the starting job.
His upcoming preseason opportunity against the Bills should provide an important test. If Sanders can speed up his reads, get the offense lined up quickly, and make decisive throws, he could narrow the gap between himself and the veteran.
