Looking back to the time before the Draft, the son of Deion Sanders likely never imagined how challenging his path to the league would be. Still, through hard work and patience, Sanders has managed to earn a starting quarterback role in the NFL, at least for the remainder of the season. However, his long-term future remains uncertain, and he will have to continue fighting for his place.
Before the NFL Draft, Sanders was projected as a first-round quarterback and was expected to be selected early, second only to Cam Ward, who was considered the top quarterback prospect. After Ward was taken with the first overall pick, the second quarterback selected in the first round was Jaxson Dart, chosen 25th overall by the New York Giants after a trade with the Houston Texans.
Sanders’ name continued to slide until the Cleveland Browns selected him with the 144th pick in the fifth round. He joined a roster that already had three quarterbacks ahead of him, including rookie Dillon Gabriel. From that point on, Sanders faced an uphill battle in his NFL career.
Deshaun Watson could be the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns
Sanders took over as the Browns’ starting quarterback in Week 11 and currently holds a 1-3 record. Despite that mark, he has clearly outperformed Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel, who started earlier in the season before head coach Kevin Stefanski turned to Sanders following Gabriel’s concussion in Week 10. While Sanders has made some mistakes, he has also shown positive flashes, lea Browns insider Mary Kay Cabotding Stefanski to name him the starter for the remainder of the season.
However, the situation becomes more complicated with the potential return of Deshaun Watson. The quarterback, who signed a fully guaranteed $230 million contract in 2022, is expected to return next season with a strong chance to reclaim the starting job. revealed that the organization is seriously considering Watson as the starter, meaning Sanders must continue proving himself. “Even if the Browns decide to roll with Sanders, he’ll have to demonstrate throughout the offseason program that he’s poised to win in 2026, or the Browns will consider starting Deshaun Watson until he’s ready,” Cabot said.
Watson suffered a double injury to his right Achilles tendon that has defined his time in Cleveland. He initially ruptured the Achilles during the 2024 season, ending his year prematurely. During his rehabilitation, he suffered a re-rupture that required a second surgery in early 2025. Watson has since returned to practice and is being considered for the upcoming season.
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