Insider makes case for Deshaun Watson over Shedeur Sanders as Browns starting QB

The Cleveland Browns have a new look this offseason after trading Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams in one of the most stunning moves in recent NFL history. On the offensive side of the ball, however, the same questions remain from offseasons past.

Cleveland has tried its best to improve on the offensive line and at wide receiver. It spent valuable draft capital at both positions in order to improve, but the question remains at quarterback. This year, Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders are battling it out for the starting job.

While Sanders showed promise at times during an up-and-down rookie season, Watson still feels more likely to be the Week 1 starter after coming off of a torn Achilles. NFL insider Albert Breer made the case for Watson on Monday, given his experience and his contract situation.

“If I’m Jimmy Haslam or Andrew Berry, I do at least want to get a look at Watson in the fall. You’ve already invested $230 million in him and sunk a ton of time and practice and game snaps into making it work,” Breer argued. “The only thing that would be worse than seeing all that go for naught would be finding out in 2027 that he still has it as he plays for another team. So getting to make sure—100% sure—that you aren’t missing on that would have some value, at least to me.”

Bring forced into playing somebody because of your irresponsible financial investment in them isn’t a great problem to have, but such is life with the Browns. Watson hasn’t played at an elite level since all the way back in 2020, but there is still some belief in Cleveland that his best football is still in there.

Of course, even if Watson is named the starter heading into the regular season, that doesn’t mean that Sanders will be riding the pine all year. The Browns are still rebuilding and are projected to be out of the playoff race, so it would make sense that new head coach Todd Monken would want to get a look at both in 2026.

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