During last year’s preseason, the Cleveland Browns were in the spotlight following the selection of Shedeur Sanders in the draft, who was without a doubt the most media-covered player of his class. The problem was that Sanders ended up being drafted in the fifth round, even though he was projected as a first-round pick-the second quarterback taken after Cam Ward.
When Sanders was drafted, the Browns already had three quarterbacks: two experienced players, Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, and also a rookie at the time, Dillon Gabriel, who was taken in the third round. So Sanders arrived as the fourth option on Cleveland’s depth chart, and from there his ordeal began.
Shedeur Sanders wanted to enter the NFL as a star and start immediately. That was his goal, and even his father, the legend Deion Sanders, spoke about his son’s ambitions. However, reality was different, and Sanders didn’t become the Browns’ starter until Week 11. Still, there are more questions than answers surrounding the former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback.
Shedeur Sanders faces a tough battle with Deshaun Watson
Yes, it was mentioned that the Browns had four quarterbacks at the start of the preseason, but there was one more under contract on the injured list: Deshaun Watson. In Week 7 of 2024, Watson suffered an Achilles tendon injury, and he reinjured it during rehab. As a result, he couldn’t play in 2025 and is now back for 2026.
Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders are set to compete for the starting job next season, according to Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot: “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.
Watson’s situation has been one of the Browns’ biggest mistakes. After they parted ways with Baker Mayfield and signed Watson in 2022 to a five-year, $230 million contract-the largest in NFL history at that time-he has only played 19 games due to suspensions and injuries.
So for now, the battle is between a Deshaun Watson who hasn’t shown much with the Browns and a Shedeur Sanders, who started seven games last season. However, Sanders’ performances weren’t decisive enough for coach Todd Monken to make a clear choice. He threw 7 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions, facing tough opponents such as the Bills, Steelers, 49ers, and Bengals.
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