“Shedeur Sanders Has Bridged the Gap” – Deshaun Watson Gets Blunt Reality Check Over QB1 Position in Cleveland

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN revealed that the battle for the Cleveland Browns starting QB job is slowly becoming a two horse race.

“Shedeur Sanders Has Bridged the Gap” – Deshaun Watson Gets Blunt Reality Check Over QB1 Position in Cleveland

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

The tide is turning within the Cleveland Browns. Even though Deshaun Watson entered offseason training as the favorite to win the starting quarterback job, people in the building believe Shedeur Sanders is slowly gaining momentum.

ESPN’s senior NFL reporter, Jeremy Fowler, in the latest episode of NFL Live, explained that Sanders left a big impression on the new Browns coaching staff, headed by Todd Monken.

Laura [Rutledge], this is a true, heated battle, and this is only going to heat up in training camp. As was told to me, Deshaun [Watson] went into the spring as the clear favorite. And that Shedeur Sanders has bridged the gap at least somewhat. I still believe Deshaun Watson’s in a good position.

Fowler said

Very early into the offseason, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland media viewed Watson as having the best chance to emerge as QB1 for the Browns. Despite receiving backlash, Cabot refused to alter her take.

Fans wanting a fresh face makes sense. Despite going 3-4 during his rookie season, Sanders showed glimpses of quality. Watson has the experience, but his past run-ins with the law don’t exactly make him the apple of anyone’s eye.

Moreover, Watson is coming off a major injury scare. He suffered ACL tears in consecutive years, limiting his time on the field. However, per Fowler, the Clemson alum is moving like his old self.

I’m told that 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 extent.

Fowler said

Footage from practice shows Sanders playing with flair and commanding the offense from under center. Sure, it’s impossible to predict whether he will be able to emulate the same on a game day, but the Browns coaching team views this as a precursor for the things to come in the future.

Shedeur was decisive. I was told that he’s got a presence about him. The new coaching staff might have underestimated a little bit. I expect this to go into preseason games. You’re going to see multiple weeks of this in Berea, these two going at it.

Fowler concluded

It’s still a long road ahead before Monken can finally announce the winner of this crucial bout. Until the July camp ends, the football world won’t learn who will lead the Browns in week one.

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FOX Sports analyst gave a generous endorsement to Shedeur Sanders

The Browns drafted Sanders in the fifth-round last year. Despite making a big impression in the preseason games, he was stuck in the pecking order behind veteran Super Bowl winner Joe Flacco and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel.

"Shedeur Sanders Has Bridged the Gap" - Deshaun Watson Gets Blunt Reality Check Over QB1 Position in Cleveland
Shedeur Sanders (Image via IMAGO)

By the time Sanders received the first team call-up, the Browns were barely hanging on for a shot at playoff qualification. Sanders threw more interceptions (10) than touchdowns (7), but his presence on the center circle rejuvenated the culture in Cleveland.

Once the season ended and the Browns hired Monken, fans thought Sanders had a clear path to the QB1 job, until Watson re-entered the conversation.

FOX Sports analyst Colin Cowherd, in a recent segment of The Herd, argued that the Browns can win more than seven games with Sanders as the starting quarterback.

I think you can win games with Shedeur [Sanders]. I think Cleveland, the last couple of years, has aced the draft, and I think they’re going to win games this year. Not two or three. Six, seven, or eight. I really believe that. I think Shedeur can play. It’s a hill I’m going to die on…

Cowherd said

The Browns had the 30th-best or the third-worst offensive line last year. They addressed it by adding veteran guard Zion Johnson and Elgton Jenkins from free agency. They further traded for Texans starting right tackle Tytus Howard and drafted Utah left tackle Spencer Fano in the first round.

Cleveland also added a few exciting receivers to their roster, namely Texas A&M alum KC Concepcion (Round 1), Washington’s Denzel Boston (Round 2), and Carsen Ryan from BYU (Round 7)

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