Shedeur

Sanders

Perhaps more notable is Fowler’s report that Monken’s offensive concepts are things Watson “has run in the past and been his best at.” The drumbeat is steadily growing louder for Watson, who has gained steam in recent weeks as the preferred option to open 2026 as the Browns starter. Watson is in the final year of the record-setting contract he signed in 2022 and is also returning from a torn Achilles that he initially suffered in 2024 and later re-ruptured, which sidelined him for all of 2025. Watson has struggled as a starter with the Browns, throwing for 3,365-19-12 in 19 games while leading them to a 9-10 record. Watson and second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders figure to be the team’s top two options at the position whenever the team decides on a starter. But early reports continually point to Watson getting the first crack at the job.

Monken also says he’s “not there yet” when it comes to naming his QB, but it doesn’t sound like he’s against the idea of naming his preferred starter before camp. Recent reports have suggested that Deshaun Watson “looks healthy” and has the inside edge to win the QB battle over Shedeur Sanders, who struggled mightily his rookie season. The Browns have been on the field for three days during their first mini camp, with Watson leading the QB room thus far. The last time we saw Watson, he threw for 1,148-5-3 in seven games for the Browns, but missed all of last season due to a torn Achilles. He’s in the final year of his record-setting five-year, $230 million contract, and could earn the early nod if he impresses enough before camp.

Concepcion, taken by the Browns with the 24th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, said he visited with Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes when he transferred schools following his sophomore season at NC State. “He’s a great guy, a great leader,” Concepcion said of Sanders. “I just can’t wait to build that relationship and build that connection with him.” That Concepcion is excited about playing with Sanders in Cleveland could be noteworthy as Sanders competes with Deshaun Watson — coming off multiple Achilles injuries — for Week 1 starting duties. Sanders in 2025 ranked 38th out of 38 qualifying quarterbacks in EPA per drop back and 36th in accuracy.

“Deshaun looks great by the way, he’s done a great job, he looks healthy, he’s in a great head space,” Johnson said during a Wednesday radio interview, acknowledging an “ongoing competition” between Watson and other Cleveland QBs, including, presumably, Shedeur Sanders. “If [Watson] is our starting quarterback, I know there are people who won’t be supportive. But they should be supportive as much as they can.” Watson, 30, is coming off who torn Achilles tendons and is slated to make $34.9 million in 2026. He’s played in 19 regular season games since 2021, due in part to legal troubles related to alleged sexual misconduct during this time with the Texans. The Watson vs. Sanders competition will be closely watched in the coming months.

“You couldn’t ask for a better start for the quarterbacks,” Monken said in reference to the QBs’ performance during offseason workouts on Monday. “I was fired up.” For now the Cleveland quarterbacks room includes Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, and Deshaun Watson, 30, who’s coming off two torn Achilles tendons and is slated to make $34.9 million in 2026. Monken said he was encouraged by the quarterbacks’ grasp of the team’s new offensive playbook. There’s a long way to go before Monken names a Week 1 starter, but The Athletic’s Zac Jackson said recently that he feels “stronger than ever” that Sanders, who threw seven touchdowns and ten picks over eight games in 2025, is the favorite to land the starting gig in Monken’s offense.

Jackson said that he believes “there will be a true competition” between Sanders and Watson in camp, but adds that “the most direct path to the Browns escaping the Watson mess” is for Sanders to take the job and provide “at least league-average quarterback play.” Watson has failed to live up to the massive five-year, $230 million contract the Browns gave him in 2022, appearing in just 19 games and posting a pedestrian 3,365-19-12 line, with a 9-10 record as a starter. Sanders struggled himself as a rookie, throwing for 1,400-7-10 while completing 56.6 percent of his passes and struggling to avoid sacks — a major hole in his game that popped up throughout his college career. The Browns could still take a shot on a rookie QB in this month’s draft, as they currently hold two first-round picks and another pick in the second and third rounds. However, if they don’t use a Day 1 or Day 2 pick on a signal-caller, things could quickly shape up for Sanders to win the QB battle, despite the front office recently hyping Watson in recent weeks.

Monken is known for maximizing his quarterback’s potential in the passing game, but the trio of Watson, Shedeur Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel may be a bridge too far for the 60-year-old, first-time head coach. That said, the Browns seem determined to find out, although we can’t rule out the team bringing in a rookie in next month’s draft. Watson’s time with the Browns has been forgettable to say the least. In four seasons with the team, the $230 million man who signed a five-year deal in 2022 has thrown for 3,365-19-12 in 19 games, and is working his way back from a torn Achilles he suffered in 2024. In fairness to Watson, things can’t get any worse, so maybe, should he win the QB1 job in camp, he will see better numbers with Monken calling the plays.

Wolfe is standing by his report from February, in which he told viewers that they should not be surprised if the Browns abstain from drafting a quarterback this year. He believes that the Browns are likely to “supplement the offense” by spending their two first-round picks on a wide receiver and a left tackle this season before “maybe” drafting a quarterback next year. Per Wolfe, the Browns’ quarterback competition is between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson, seemingly rendering Dillon Gabriel a locked-in backup.

The Browns are still laboring through the repercussions of the Watson trade. He will remain on the roster this year and was nearly ready to return from his torn Achilles at the end of the 2025 season. He should be a full-go for the start of the offseason program, putting him in line to compete with Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders for the starting job. The Browns could make another addition via free agency or the draft, but our hopes are not high for this room in 2026.

Head coach Todd Monken has already said the team will have an “open competition” at quarterback this summer. Watson, who is returning from a torn Achilles he suffered in 2024, remains under contract through this season for what is the final year of the record-setting deal he signed in 2022. Watson’s deal makes him nearly impossible to move on from this offseason, as a release would count for an absurd $131 million in dead cap money. Assuming he’s healthy and on the roster, Watson should have every chance to win the job in camp and will likely have the inside edge over Shedeur Sanders, who struggled mightily as a rookie.