The Cleveland Browns were one of the most intriguing teams to watch this offseason. With Deshaun Watson returning from injury, new head coach Todd Monken had a quarterback battle on his hands.
Ultimately, the three-time Pro Bowler ended up winning the race. But that has left last year’s fifth-round pick, Shedeur Sanders, in a backup role once again. Beyond media and fans, the move even shocked several members of the NFL community.
Ex-Titans GM Underlines Why Deshaun Watson Was a Shocking Choice Over Shedeur Sanders
Last year, after Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel, Sanders finally got playing time in Week 11 against the Baltimore Ravens. From that point forward, he kept the starting role till the end of the year.
Tallying 1,400 passing yards and seven touchdowns, he gave up 10 interceptions and finished second-to-last in PFN’s Quarterback Impact Metrics. That could have been valid reasons to lean towards Watson, but the last time the $230 million quarterback suited up for the Browns, he finished dead last himself.
Add in their viability for the future, and former Tennessee Titans general manager Ran Carthon was left stunned that the Browns moved forward with Watson, at least for the time being. Making an appearance on “92.3 The Fan,” he broke down what the decision could potentially mean.
“Watching the preseason and how the games unfolded, I was a little shocked that Deshaun was chosen. But from a big-picture view, looking at it from a first-time NFL head coach. I believe Todd Monken wanted to go with the experience to see what it’s gonna be out the gate.”
BE THE GM OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM: PFN’s Free NFL Mock Draft Simulator
Moreover, he believes Monken’s style could bring out the best in Watson, as opposed to what Kevin Stefanski had been able to manage. But even with that potential upside, the Sanders piece of it left him perplexed.
“I thought Shedeur played well enough. I do believe Deshaun Watson will be on a short leash and, at some point, we will see Shedeur in the lineup as the QB.”
➡️ Former NFL GM and @SiriusXMNFL analyst @RanCarthon w/ @NickWilsonSays and @JPeterlin on the #Browns QB situation https://t.co/e99tYCvsHe pic.twitter.com/nYL4JdxivS
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) September 3, 2026
“I was shocked. I thought Shedeur played well enough. I thought he showed enough flashes last year to give him a real opportunity. I do believe that Deshaun Watson will be on a proverbial short leash and, at some point, we will see Shedeur in the lineup as the starting quarterback of the Cleveland Browns.”
It remains to be seen if that situation truly becomes a reality. Beyond the play on the field, the reaction from the fans, which was undeniable during the preseason, could further complicate matters for Watson.
The growing sentiment has been that the Browns will look for a franchise quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft. Where that leaves Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, or Taylen Green remains to be seen, which means Cleveland is certainly a franchise to keep an eye on as the season progresses.
