Deshaun Watson winning the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback competition did not convince everyone that Todd Monken was the person who truly made the call.
Former NFL linebacker Will Compton reacted to Cleveland naming Watson its Week 1 starter over Shedeur Sanders by questioning whether the decision came from higher in the organization.
Will Compton Suspects Browns’ Deshaun Watson Call Came From Above Todd Monken
“Feels like a decision CLEARLY above Todd Monken,” Compton wrote in an X post.
Feels like a decision CLEARLY above Todd Monken https://t.co/aJslgq19iv
— Will Compton (@_willcompton) August 24, 2026
Compton did not provide evidence that owner Jimmy Haslam, general manager Andrew Berry, or another executive overruled Monken. His post was speculation, and Cleveland’s public exclamation points in the opposite direction.
Monken said the Browns evaluated the “full body of work” from the offseason, training camp, preseason games, and joint practices before choosing Watson. He added in the team announcement that the coaching staff discussed and reviewed the competition before deciding Watson gave Cleveland “the best chance to move the ball and score points.”
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The decision is not intended to be a temporary measure. Monken said Cleveland is not treating quarterback as a week-to-week competition and believes Watson remained ahead of Sanders over the full evaluation period.
Still, Compton’s suspicion comes with obvious organizational history attached.
Remember When Jimmy Haslam Took Responsibility for The Deshaun Watson Gamble?
Cleveland acquired Watson from Houston in 2022 for a package highlighted by three first-round picks, then signed him to a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract.
Haslam publicly called that move a “big swing and miss” at the 2025 NFL owners’ meetings. He also said the original Watson acquisition was an organization-wide decision and that responsibility ultimately rested with him and co-owner Dee Haslam.
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That does not mean Haslam personally ordered Monken to start Watson in 2026. There has been no verified report establishing that.
Monken’s decision nevertheless surprised critics because Sanders outplayed Watson statistically in Saturday’s preseason loss to Buffalo. Sanders completed nine of 11 passes for 74 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Watson went 5-of-12 for 36 yards with an interception.
Over the entire preseason, Watson completed 16 of 27 passes for 162 yards with one interception, while Sanders completed 15 of 22 for 153 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Sanders also enters Year 2 needing significant improvement. He finished 2025 with a 63.0 QB Impact score, ranking 37th among qualifying quarterbacks after throwing seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Watson missed all of 2025 while recovering from two Achilles surgeries, and his Cleveland tenure has included only 19 starts since the blockbuster trade.
Monken insists the choice came from his staff’s evaluation.
Compton sees enough in the circumstances to suspect somebody higher up had a hand in it.
Until evidence emerges otherwise, that remains a theory, not a fact.
