While some may have assumed that Deshaun Watson would step back into the No. 1 spot as quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, Shedeur Sanders is making his presence known.
Watson is coming off an extended period of time being out of game action due to injuries. Sanders, though, has been proving his doubters wrong sometimes with his play. Those doubters are reportedly even within the Browns, too.
NFL Analyst Foresees Browns Quarterback Battle Between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders
A quarterback battle is shaping up in Cleveland, something that one NFL analyst is openly talking about.
ESPN senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler appeared on the network’s “NFL Live” program and shared his thoughts about the Watson-Sanders matter. Fowler was asked by host Laura Rutledge to break it all down.
“Laura, this is a true, heated battle, and this is only going to heat up in training camp,” Fowler said. “As was told to me, Deshaun Watson went into the spring as the clear favorite. And that Shedeur Sanders has bridged the gap at least somewhat. I still believe Deshaun Watson’s in a good position.
“Deshaun Watson went into the spring as the clear favorite, and then Shedeur Sanders has bridged the gap at least somewhat.”@JFowlerESPN believes the Browns’ QB battle will go into the preseason ✍️ pic.twitter.com/R1G21GO09u
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) June 18, 2026
“I’m told that he was moving like a major athlete again coming off those Achilles’ tears,” Fowler continued. “He’s moving well, he’s fluid, looks like the athlete of old to most extent. But Shedeur was decisive.
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“I was told that he’s got a presence about him. That the new coaching staff might have underestimated a little bit. I expect this to go into preseason games. You’re going to see multiple weeks of this in Berea, these two going at it.”
Todd Monken is now the Browns’ head coach after the team and Kevin Stefanski parted ways after last season. Monken came over to Cleveland after serving as offensive coordinator with the Baltimore Ravens under John Harbaugh.
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According to the PFSN NFL QB Impact metrics, which are measured through the regular season, Sanders finished with a 56.7 QB Impact Score and graded out to an F. Sanders started in 7 of the 8 games he appeared in during the 2025 NFL season. He had a 56.6% passing completion percentage, threw for 1,400 yards with 7 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions.
Watson played his first four NFL seasons with the Houston Texans before joining the Browns back in the 2022 NFL season. He’s not played in an actual NFL game since the 2024 NFL season, when he started and played in 7 games. Injuries have sidelined Watson, along with his off-the-field issues, too.
What’s made Watson’s situation even more tenuous with Browns fans is his contract. Back in March 2022, Watson signed a five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million contract with Cleveland.
This contract also included a $44.965 million signing bonus. Attached to the contract was a yearly contract averaging about $46 million.
