The Cleveland Browns have to make a decision at the quarterback spot. After their defense has been consistently excellent with a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate in Myles Garrett, they are trying to fix their offensive woes as well.
This year, after allocating a majority of their draft resources in that direction, the expectations are starting to build. But between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, the team isn’t rife with great choices.
Shedeur Sanders Losing to Deshaun Watson Might Be the Final Nail in the Coffin
Last year, a season-ending injury to Watson allowed the Browns to explore a multitude of pathways for the quarterback spot. Signing Joe Flacco and drafting Dillon Gabriel and Sanders in the third and fifth rounds, respectively, they gave all three a run under center.
By the end of the year, though, Sanders had seven starts to his name and seemed like the logical starter, at least for the time being. However, with a new head coach, Todd Monken, coming in, doubts remained about the player who finished fourth-worst among quarterbacks in the league according to PFSN’s QB Impact Metric (QBi).
Unfortunately, those doubts might not be for naught. After the draft, the growing sentiment in Cleveland is that Watson, who ranked at 39 on QBi in 2024, could take the starting job from Sanders.
For Nick Wright of “First Things First” on FS1, who has constantly been a supporter of Sanders as the quarterback for the Browns, the idea might be a grim realization of the second-generation star’s standing in the league.
“If Shedeur Sanders cannot beat out Deshaun Watson, even in year 2, it is a stinging indictment on wherever Shedeur is going to be as a pro,” he proclaimed. “I did not expect him to lose a fair, head-up competition to Deshaun Watson, who very simply has been well beneath backup level for years. By the way, that was before he tore his Achilles twice.”
Since arriving in Cleveland in 2022, Watson has played in only 19 games. During this time, he has thrown for 3,365 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, with a 61.2% completion rate. Given that he was a three-time Pro Bowler in Houston, his numbers in Cleveland are concerning, and as Wright noted, Sanders not winning the quarterback battle would be a significant blow to his chances of having a long NFL career.
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There is a long way to go before the season actually begins. Between now and then, the quarterback position should get a definitive answer. But so far, the Browns haven’t made it clear who they are angling towards.
But if they choose to move forward with Watson as the starting quarterback, then it remains a major question mark
