Ochocinco reveals Browns’ starting quarterback as Cleveland ‘field calls’ over trading backup

Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson thinks Deshaun Watson has six games to save his NFL career.

Cleveland Browns fans are spending another offseason with a major question mark over the most important position in sports.

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Watson is believed to be the frontrunner, but new head coach Todd Monken has let the QB battle go into training camp, which will take place at the end of July.

Despite this, Ochocinco thinks the writing is already on the wall.

“Deshaun Watson is the starting QB for the Cleveland Browns,” he said on the Nightcap Podcast.

“It is his job to lose. He has six weeks. I guarantee you.

“He has six weeks to make sure that team is playing above or better than whatever the expectations might be for that team and that quarterback.

“If he’s not, Shedeur Sanders will fall in line as the backup and be the starter for the remainder of the season.”

In that span, the Browns will face the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens.

Watson is in the final throes of his $230 million contract and the Browns will likely see if he can justify some of that outlay before handing over to another QB if he fails.

Cleveland reportedly fielding calls on Shedeur Sanders

Sanders started the final seven games for the Browns in 2025, leading them to four of their five wins.

He threw for 1400 yards and seven touchdowns, earning Pro-Bowl honors after some withdrawals.

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The son of NFL legend Deion has come on leaps and bounds in second year and would expect to be next in line if Watson failed.

Tony Rizzo of ESPN Cleveland claims that Sanders’ chance may come outside Ohio, however.

“There are talks… ongoing calls about the availability of Shedeur Sanders,” Rizzo said.

“The Browns, for whatever reason, don’t think that he is the guy, that’s my opinion.

“I’m going to say it now, for the record, I don’t think the four quarterbacks are going to camp on July 28. Nothing is imminent, but the calls are being made,”

Emmett Golden, Rizzo’s co-host, made his opinion on the news very clear.

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“Yeah [I would be stunned], would you want to go into next year with Deshaun Watson as your starter? and Dillon Gabriel as your backup,” Golden added.

“It simplifies it alright because you would have no answer at quarterback for the future – I would be shocked if they did it.”

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