The Cleveland Browns are once again the epicenter of offseason quarterback drama. After acquiring standout prospect Shedeur Sanders, many fans and analysts speculated that a changing of the guard was imminent in Cleveland.
However, according to NFL legends Chad Johnson and Shannon Sharpe, the reality of professional football’s financial landscape means Sanders faces an incredibly steep climb to unseat veteran Deshaun Watson. The overarching message? In the NFL, money talks louder than collegiate accolades.
Why Shedeur Sanders Is Tied to the Economics of the Browns’ Depth Chart
When it comes to deciding who takes the first snap of the regular season, front offices and coaching staffs are heavily influenced by the salary cap. Watson’s fully guaranteed, mammoth contract looms over the Browns’ organization, making it highly unlikely the team would sideline its highest-paid asset if he is physically able to play.
Johnson, a former All-Pro wide receiver, recently weighed in on the looming quarterback battle on his podcast “Nightcap.” As usual, he did not mince words regarding Sanders’ chances of taking the reins early on.
“The man with the most money is going to be starting,” Johnson bluntly stated. “I’m not paying you that kind of money and you healthy to sit on the bench. That’s just not the way the NFL works in general.”
Johnson further predicted that the Browns will manufacture a training camp competition purely for show, dragging out the drama to capture headlines while masking their inevitable depth chart decision.
“You know what they going to do? What when it comes to the preseason, Deshaun gonna start one game, then Shedeur going to start,” Johnson elaborated. “Then they going they they going to have a whole roll out like a goddamn album release party and have everybody guessing who going to start Week 1, knowing good and well that Deshaun is going to be the starter based on the amount of money he’s making going into the season.”
Adding to the pessimism surrounding the Browns’ quarterback room, Sharpe, a Hall of Fame tight end and Johnson’s co-host, pointed out that a true franchise cornerstone doesn’t invite this level of offseason ambiguity.
“And the mere fact that you’re having to ask this question let you know you don’t have a solid starter,” Sharpe noted, emphasizing that elite teams rarely entertain quarterback controversies.
Beyond the financial roadblocks, Sanders also has to contend with the stark reality of adapting to the professional level. According to the PFSN QB Impact Metric, Sanders still has significant developmental strides to make.
In the 2025 PFSN QB Impact rankings, Sanders sits at a concerning 46th overall in the league. With a QB Impact Score of just 56.9 and an overarching grade of F, the analytics suggest that he is a long way from seamlessly carrying an NFL offense.
MORE: PFSN’s NFL Free Agency Tracker
Watson, who played seven games in 2024, was also graded an F for his work that season with a score of 51.1. This ranked him 39th overall out of all eligible quarterbacks in the league.
Ultimately, Sanders possesses undeniable raw talent. However, between Watson’s colossal contract dictating the depth chart and his own early-career analytical metrics, the young quarterback has a truly uphill battle to claim the throne in Cleveland.
