The Cleveland Browns’ quarterback battle is shaping up as one of the most compelling storylines of the 2026 offseason. Deshaun Watson currently holds the edge in the competition with Shedeur Sanders, but head coach Todd Monken has refused to name a starter after mandatory minicamp.
Watson is expected to open the season as QB1, but former Cincinnati Bengals wideout T.J. Houshmandzadeh doesn’t believe he’ll hold the job for long.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh Claims Shedeur Sanders Will Start for Browns by Midseason
Houshmandzadeh predicted on the “Speakeasy” show that Sanders will replace Watson by midseason to start for the Browns.
“At some point, Deshaun’s going to get put on the bench, and Shedeur Sanders will be given an opportunity,” Houshmandzadeh said. “Deshaun Watson robbed the bank without a mask, and a lot of it was because of him, and he said, you know, just the self-confidence of everything that’s going on, the mental challenges of everything that’s going on.”
“I do believe this will be the best Deshaun Watson that we’ve seen in the Cleveland Browns uniform, but the rest of those teams in that division are better,” he added. “I believe the Cleveland Browns have now gotten worse. It’s going to be such an uphill battle for him. But yes, Deshaun Watson will be the starting quarterback, and like I said, by Week 6 or 7, Shedeur will be starting after that.”
Sanders showed flashes as a fifth-round rookie, throwing for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in eight appearances. According to PFSN’s QB Impact Metric, he posted an impact score of 56.7 last season, ranking third-worst in the league, and the Browns need to determine whether he’s a long-term starter or a placeholder.
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Watson, for his part, is playing for his career, as he is in the final year of his $230 million deal with the Browns, and no other team might sign him if he continues to struggle.
Giving both quarterbacks meaningful reps in 2026 is arguably the smartest thing the Browns can do. If either quarterback exceeds expectations, Cleveland can build around him heading into 2027 and invest in other roster needs.
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If neither proves to be the answer, the Browns will be positioned to draft either of Texas’s Arch Manning, Oregon’s Dante Moore, or Notre Dame’s CJ Carr and get their next franchise quarterback.
The Browns have already traded Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams, knowing they are not yet ready to win. However, that could change quickly if either Watson or Sanders performs consistently, and Cleveland still has playmakers on both sides of the field to shake up the AFC North.
