Could Shedeur Sanders start at QB for the Cleveland Browns in 2026?
According to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN, Shedeur Sanders has impressed the Cleveland Browns coaches with his grasp of the new offense.
The Browns will use training camp and the preseason to determine who will be the starting QB next season between Sanders and veteran Deshaun Watson.
"Todd Monken wanted to enter camp with a clear starter, but he was impressed with both Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders during the offseason workout program, so the competition continues," Oyefusi wrote. "Watson is healthy after a pair of Achilles surgeries that sidelined him for the 2025 season. He has experience as a nine-year veteran, although he has played in only 19 games since 2022 because of suspension and injuries, and he has struggled during those starts. Sanders, a 2025 fifth-round pick who started seven games as a rookie, has impressed coaches with his grasp of the offense in recent months."
Sanders finished his rookie season with 1,400 passing yards, seven passing touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 169 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. He went 3-4 as a starter.
Meanwhile, since making his Browns debut, Watson has posted a 33.1 Total QBR, the lowest among qualified passers. The odds of the former Houston Texans star turning back the clock after an Achilles tear are pretty low, which is why many NFL pundits believe Cleveland should start Sanders so the team can fully evaluate him for an entire season.
Watson has 3,365 passing yards and 19 passing touchdowns with Cleveland. He's thrown 12 interceptions.
Many Cleveland fans want Sanders to start because Watson has been horrendous since getting traded to the Browns. He also dealt with off-the-field stuff.
When Watson tore his Achilles in 2024, Browns fans cheered. That should tell you everything about how Cleveland fans regard Watson.
Some people in the NFL believe the Browns are best suited to be putrid again in 2026 so that they can get a top pick in 2027 and select Arch Manning or Dante Moore. Let's see what happens.
According to NFL insider Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Sanders made up ground in the QB1 battle with Watson. This may go down to the wire.
"This is a true, heated battle and this one's only going to heat up in training camp. As was told to me, Deshaun Watson went into the spring as the clear favorite and then Shedeur Sanders has bridged the gap at least somewhat," Fowler said. "I still believe Watson's in a good position. I'm told he was moving like a major athlete again coming off those Achilles tears. He's moving well, he's fluid, looks like the athlete of old to most extents.
"But Sanders was decisive. I was told he's got a presence about him that the coaching staff noticed that they might have underestimated a little bit. So I expect this to go into preseason games. You're gonna see multiple weeks of this."
Cleveland faces the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1. It will be interesting to see who is under center for the Browns.
