Amid the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Cleveland Browns, like all NFL teams, are hard at work preparing for the upcoming season, and the quarterback battle between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson is center stage. New head coach Todd Monken is trying to establish a foundation under center, but it isn’t easy.
How the Browns’ QB Battle Between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson Is Shaping Up
Sanders’ 3-4 starting record from last season didn’t paint him as the Browns’ future at quarterback. His 1,400 passing yards, 7 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and 56.7 PFSN QB Impact score, which ranked third-worst in the league, also didn’t impress many.
However, he was still the team’s better starter, earning him a chance this offseason to compete with Watson for the starting job. While the veteran was initially thought to be the clear-cut favorite to triumph, the second-year Colorado man reportedly closed the gap to the point where he has a realistic shot at leading the offense.
Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot commented on the situation on “92.3 The Fan,” citing Sanders’ recent improvements.
“Shedeur Sanders came on so strong the last 3-4 weeks of OTAs and minicamp that he made it impossible for them to go out and make a decision right now,” she said. “I think he kind of just put his nose to the grindstone and really studied that offense and got out there and did what he needed to do at the line of scrimmage, more so than he did in the beginning.”
BE THE GM OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM: PFN’s FREE NFL Mock Draft Simulator
Sanders played with a hand behind his back last season, having been tasked with running the failing offense of former head coach Kevin Stefanski, which had next to no firepower. Rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr., out of Bowling Green, led the receiving corps with 72 receptions, ahead of expected star Jerry Jeudy.
“Shedeur Sanders came on so strong the last 3-4 weeks that he made it impossible for them to go out and make a decision right now… They really want to see what he can do when the pads come on.”
📞@MaryKayCabot on the Browns QB competition remaining wide open pic.twitter.com/EiJ6I1Sfpy
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) June 18, 2026
While the front office didn’t do much to bolster the receiver room this offseason, Sanders seems to be getting the hang of Monken’s system.
“When it came to the operation of the offense, he became way more efficient just in terms of going through his progressions, getting rid of the ball, his footwork — all of that — all of the things you need to do to operate this offense,” Cabot added. “He became way more efficient, and they really want to see what he can do when the pads come on and when he actually has some pressure.”
PREDICT THE NFL SEASON: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
Although the Browns drafted KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston to add more playmakers, both are rookies, and it seems Monken will build the Browns’ offense around star running back Quinshon Judkins this season. The second-year back out of Ohio State proved valuable in Cleveland’s offense last season, recording 230 carries for 827 yards and 7 touchdowns in 14 games.
How Sanders operates next to him will be interesting to watch.
