Will the Browns’ Choice on Deshaun Watson Help or Hinder Shedeur Sanders?

Deshaun Watson hasn't played an NFL game in over a year after suffering terrible Achilles tear last season.

Will the Browns’ Choice on Deshaun Watson Help or Hinder Shedeur Sanders?

Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson (Image via IMAGO)

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The wheels are turning more quickly than anticipated at the Cleveland Browns headquarters. Within a span of a month, Shedeur Sanders went from being overlooked to starting football games for the Browns, and now he’s staring down the bench once again.

The sudden shift in Sanders’ situation stems from the Browns’ recent decision regarding Deshaun Watson. Watson’s name might not spark fond memories for fans, but he remains a Browns player and their top asset at the quarterback position.

For that very reason, the Browns’ hierarchy is leaning toward involving the veteran signal caller in their future plans. Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reports that Watson is getting closer to a chance for redemption. He may not be part of Kevin Stefanski’s clipboard right now, but Rapoport learned that the Pro Bowler could be on the roster in 2026 and, better yet, start over his young teammate Shedeur Sanders.

Watson’s story is complicated. His NFL career looked to be over as he navigated through the treacherous waters of the American legal system following his move from Houston to Cleveland. This clearly affected his performance on the gridiron. He no longer commanded the same numbers as his Texans days and slowly faded away following a 1-6 start in 2024.

Injuries piled up one after another. Currently, he’s dealing with an Achilles injury, and he has only recently returned to the sideline, assuming the role of a mentor to Sanders.

Is this a sign that Watson could suit up in the coming days for the Browns? That’s unlikely, according to Rapoport. In his conversation with Stefanski, Rapoport learned the Browns’ front office is in no hurry to reinstate Watson so soon after coming back from a serious injury.

[Deshaun] has been working so hard, rehabbing, so finally to get out there on the practice field with his teammates to go through individual, I think this is really great for him.

Kevin Stefanski said (H/T: NFL.com)

Watson’s inflated contract is likely the reason behind the Browns shifting their focus back onto him. Rapoport’s colleague, Tom Pelissero, tweeted that Watson is due $46 million cash in 2026 with a scheduled cap number of $80.7 million and $50.4 million in dead cap in 2027.

Shedeur Sanders is set to start against the Titans

Of course, it’s far from an ideal situation for the fifth-round rookie from Colorado, who was starting to build a strong foundation for himself. Sanders did not start a game for the Browns until Dillon Gabriel suffered a concussion in Week 11.

Will the Browns' Choice on Deshaun Watson Help or Hinder Shedeur Sanders?
#12 Shedeur Sanders (Image via IMAGO)

Stefanski entrusted Sanders with the starting QB job. His numbers weren’t special. They perfectly reflected his offseason training routine. With those couple of defeats, the Browns dropped to a 3-9 record.

Sanders remains the quarterback for now. He’s poised to start against the Tennessee Titans next game day, but Stefanski has Gabriel prepped in order to keep Sanders on his toes. The schedule only gets tougher as the regular season comes to a close. They play three .500 teams, including the Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Chicago Bears.

It only leaves the 4-8 Cincinnati Bengals. However, it would be foolish for the Browns to take their divisional rivals lightly with Joe Burrow at the steering wheel.

Regardless, Sanders’ first target would be to outplay his peer and Titans quarterback Cam Ward. Prior to him slipping down the draft, Sanders and Ward were favorites to be selected number one overall in 2025. Ward won that battle, but the war is yet to be decided.

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