‘I Don’t Think Shedeur [Sanders] Did That’ — Broncos Legend Outlines Why Browns QB Lost Underwhelming Battle With Deshaun Watson

After starting the final seven games of the 2025 season, it would have been easy for new head coach Todd Monken to slot Shedeur Sanders back into the QB1 role. However, with Deshaun Watson returning from a torn Achilles, a proper battle commenced.

Unfortunately for the second-generation star, the three-time Pro Bowler won that battle, despite the drama surrounding him. Now, one Denver Broncos icon has outlined why Deion Sanders’ son fell behind Watson on the depth chart.

Deshaun Watson Had One Edge Over Shedeur Sanders

Falling to the 144th overall pick, Sanders started behind both Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel on the depth chart for the Browns last season. However, after the former was traded and the latter got injured, Sanders finally got his opportunity in Week 11.

From there, he remained the starter till the end of the season, throwing for 1,400 passing yards and seven touchdowns against 10 interceptions. He was a factor on the ground as well, adding 169 rushing yards and a touchdown, but ranked second-to-last in PFN’s QB Impact Metrics.

Unfortunately, he didn’t show enough improvement during training camp or preseason for Monken to slot him over Watson. Three-time Super Bowl champion Mark Schlereth doesn’t think Sanders did enough.

“I didn’t think either of these guys went out and performed exceptionally well in either of the preseason games,” he confessed on “The Stinkin Truth” podcast.

“But if you’re taking away or trying to win the starting quarterback job from an incumbent that you’ve paid a lot of money to, there’s got to be no doubt. You have got to step up, and you’ve got to earn it. You’ve got to take it from Deshaun Watson. And I did not think Shedeur did that.”

BE THE GM OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM: PFN’s Free NFL Mock Draft Simulator

After the second preseason game, where Watson was mercilessly booed by the Browns faithful and went after them in the post-game press conference, he still kept the starting job. However, Schlereth remains convinced that the distinction could change in the future.

“I think it’s easier to transition from Watson to Shedeur after five or six weeks if it’s not going well than it is to go from Shedeur to Watson.”

It will be interesting to see if the performance from Watson or the reaction from the fan base convinces the Browns to change their minds.

But for the time being, Sanders is progressing as the QB2, and his chances of becoming a truly viable starter in the NFL are shrinking by the day.