Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders Set for Tight QB1 Fight in 2026

Deshaun Watson spent the 2025 NFL season rehabbing from a torn Achilles and in 2026 he has a chance to start over Shedeur Sanders.

Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders Set for Tight QB1 Fight in 2026

Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders (Image via IMAGO)

In Short
  • Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders are in a competitive battle for the QB1 position with the Cleveland Browns.
  • Shedeur Sanders showed potential as a starter, earning a Pro Bowl call-up despite a challenging rookie season.
  • New head coach Todd Monken believes Sanders has the "it factor" needed for success at quarterback.

As long as Deshaun Watson is in the building, Shedeur Sanders will never be the nailed-on starter for the Cleveland Browns. Insider Mary Kay Cabot emphasized this fact in a recent article.

Sanders took over as QB1 midway through his rookie season after both Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel failed to make a positive impact. The fifth-round signal-caller showed a great deal of potential despite the losses and earned a Pro Bowl call-up.

Watson never went away. He was always standing in the background, patiently waiting for his time to arrive. He returned to the frame toward the end of the last campaign as a mentor to Shedeur. However, he’s no longer gunning for just a slice; Watson wants the entire pie for himself.

It will be a challenge for sure, because fans want to see Sanders succeed in Cleveland. According to Cabot, Watson and Sanders are on equal footing, and the off-season camp will decide the starter.

I think right now that it would probably be 40% for Shedeur, 40% for Deshaun [Watson], and 20 for someone else. So I think those two guys heading into this whole thing are probably kind of running neck and neck.

Cabot said (H/T: Cleveland.com)

Watson re-ruptured his bad Achilles tendon prior to the commencement of the last campaign. The Browns placed him on injured reserve after he underwent surgery. In 2024, Watson played just 7 games before picking up an injury. In fact, his Browns career has been marred by injuries. He has made just 19 appearances in four seasons while earning more than $40 million per year.

Shedeur Sanders may still have an edge over Deshaun Watson

Even though Watson has the upper hand when it comes to experience, Sanders has played more games than the Clemson alumnus. Moreover, new head coach Todd Monken appears to be a big a believer of his young under center.

Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders Set for Tight QB1 Fight in 2026
Shedeur Sanders (Image via IMAGO)

During Monken’s inaugural press conference, the pair was filmed in a cheerful mood. Cabot viewed the exchange as a sign of things to come.

I think another thing that we haven’t talked a bunch about yet is the fact that [Todd] Monken mentioned the ‘it factor’ when he is looking for traits in a quarterback. And I think that’s one thing that Shedeur [Sanders] established last year. I think he showed that he has the ‘it factor,’ that he gets in the zone when the game is on the line and he’s aggressive and he’s accurate, for the most part, and he’s tough.

Cabot said

Monken came from the Ravens, a team that was heavily linked to Sanders. The Colorado graduate, projected first overall pick, slip to the fifth round before the Browns picked him up. Monken told Sanders that the Ravens tried to make him Lamar Jackson‘s backup.

We tried to draft your a– last year, for God’s sake. It’s all worked out.

Monken said

However, Shedeur’s dad, Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, in an earlier interview made it clear that he did not want Sanders be a backup in Baltimore.

Sanders played 8 games in 2025 and went 3-4 as a starter. He completed 120 passes (56.%) for 1400 passing yards, threw 7 touchdowns, and 10 picks.

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