Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders? Browns’ Inconsistent QB Stance Gets Called Out

Although the Browns haven't decided who their starting quarterback will be in week one between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, the veteran is currently ahead of the second year signal caller.

Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders? Browns’ Inconsistent QB Stance Gets Called Out

#4 Deshaun Watson, #2 Shedeur Sanders and #8 Dillon Gabriel (Image via IMAGO)

In Short
  • The Cleveland Browns are considering Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders for the starting quarterback position.
  • Head coach Todd Monken has not confirmed a starting quarterback, emphasizing the decision is still open.
  • The Browns may pursue quarterback Brendon Sorsby in the supplemental draft to strengthen their roster.

The competition to become the next starting quarterback of the Cleveland Browns remains open. Currently, the front-runners are Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, with Dillon Gabriel likely to secure a roster spot.

As Watson is the veteran signal caller of the three, he may likely end up starting in week one. Cleveland Sports Insider Mary Kay Cabot, in her recent report, said the coaches are leaning toward going with the Pro Bowler as QB1 heading into OTAs.

Speaking on the 92.3 The Fan radio show, Browns head coach Todd Monken clarified that he hasn’t zeroed in on a name just yet.

That’s someone reporting something they believe. That’s their opinion. Fine, not my opinion.

Jake Trotter, senior college football writer for ESPN, is baffled that the Browns still can not figure out who their starting quarterback is. Cleveland drafted Sanders in the fifth round, two rounds after Gabriel. The Oregon alum beat out Sanders during the training camp last year, and when Joe Flacco lost his place on the team, Kevin Stefanski (former head coach) turned to Gabriel instead of Sanders, who was projected as the first overall pick leading up to the 2025 draft.

Sanders eventually got his chance to start, but struggled to adapt to the pace of the league. Regardless, fans fell in love with him, but Monken and the Browns coaching crew must be realistic and choose the best player to start under center, no matter who it is going to be. Trotter said on ESPN Cleveland:

We’re hearing all this Deshaun Watson is gonna start stuff – and whether you agree with it or not, it’s coming from somewhere…. you would not be thinking about starting Deshaun Watson if you thought Shedeur Sanders had a chance to be the guy.

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Shedeur Sanders’ position on the roster could be in jeopardy, says Browns beat writer

Unlike last year, the Browns did not add a quarterback in the draft. However, that could change if they follow Tony Grossi’s hypothesis.

Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders? Browns' Inconsistent QB Stance Gets Called Out
Shedeur Sanders (Image via IMAGO)

Grossi’s latest article hinted that the Browns might go all in for Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby. But with the draft already over, how would they plan to bring him in—through the supplemental draft?

Sorsby did not enter his name in the 2026 draft, as he is being investigated by the Indiana and Ohio gaming commissions, as well as the NCAA, for allegedly betting on college football games during his years enrolled at the University of Indiana (2022-23) and the University of Cincinnati (2024-25).

The NCAA prohibits athletes from betting on college or NFL games. If found guilty, he would lose the eligibility to play for the Red Raiders despite signing a lucrative NIL deal.

Instead of sitting out a year, he is reportedly eyeing a path into the NFL via the supplemental draft in July. Dane Bruglar of The Athletic projected Sorsby as the third-best quarterback behind Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson—a late second or early third round draftee.

He could still wait out a year and enter the draft next year, but there’s no guarantee the Browns will get a high enough draft pick to acquire Sorsby’s stature. Selecting him in the supplemental draft gives them a quarterback who has the pedigree to challenge Sanders for the QB2 or QB1 position.

That’s because during his last two years in Cincinnati, Sorsby completed 62.9 percent of his passes for 5,613 yards, 45 touchdowns, and threw just 12 interceptions. He further rushed for 1,027 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Todd McShay of The Ringer isn’t opposed to the Browns taking Sorsby in the supplemental draft and adding a different dimension to their QB room. McShay said:

If I’m the, I don’t know, the [Cleveland] Browns. If we have the quarterback coach, and we have the contract the right way, we have the psychologists putting a stamp on it… If we can get aligned, I think this guy’s worth it. And if that’s the case, I get to draft him, and I’m doing it with a first-round pick. And I’m doing that because I think he’s got a chance to be special.

Browns fans may remember that their team acquired Bernie Kosar in the 1985 supplemental draft. Kosar spent eight seasons as the Browns’ starting quarterback, registering three winning seasons and a Pro Bowl campaign in 1987.

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