Sanders Won’t Go Quietly: The Browns QB1 Race Just Got Real
Good morning, Dawg Pound. If you went to bed last night thinking Deshaun Watson had this starting job locked up, it’s time to wake up and smell the Lake Erie breeze. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler dropped a bomb on Wednesday night, saying Watson “went into the spring as the clear favorite, and then Shedeur Sanders has bridged the gap at least somewhat,” adding that this is “a true heated battle” that will extend into preseason games.
Fowler reported that Sanders “was decisive” and has “a presence about him that the new coaching staff noticed that they might’ve underestimated a little bit.” Let that sink in. The Browns’ own coaching staff may have sold short the kid they drafted in the fifth round a year ago.
The consensus among Cleveland beat writers was that neither Watson nor Sanders shined during OTAs — Watson “lacked consistency and too often threw into traffic,” while Sanders “seemed to be a more confident and accurate passer later in the spring than he was early on.”
Head coach Todd Monken originally wanted to name a starting quarterback before training camp, but has since reversed course, saying he “goes back and forth on a daily basis” and believes the team has two starting-quality passers. Translation: nobody seized the job.
The Numbers Tell a Complicated Story
Let’s be honest about what we’re working with here.
- Shedeur Sanders (2025): A 56.6% completion percentage, 1,400 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 7 starts — grading out to an F in PFSN’s QB Impact metrics.
- Deshaun Watson: He hasn’t played in an actual NFL game since the 2024 season, when he started and played in 7 games. Fowler says Watson “was moving like a major athlete again coming off those Achilles tears,” but moving well and throwing well are two very different things.
- The elephant in the room: Watson signed a five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million contract with Cleveland back in March 2022. That financial albatross isn’t going anywhere.
The Offense Taking Shape Around Them
Whoever wins this battle is going to have a completely different supporting cast than last year’s disaster. The offensive line overhaul is the story of this offseason:
- OL configuration: During the Browns’ first 11-on-11 set at minicamp, the first offensive line group featured Spencer Fano at left tackle, Zion Johnson at left guard, Elgton Jenkins at center, KT Leveston at right guard, and Tytus Howard at right tackle.
- Leveston intrigue: Monken highlighted how Leveston plays with power and toughness and wanted to evaluate him at right guard during practice.
That’s four new starters up front if it holds. After the ramshackle unit that got Judkins hurt and every quarterback killed last year, this is a massive upgrade on paper.
Denzel Boston: The Spring’s Biggest Winner
The Athletic’s Zac Jackson was asked to name the standout player from OTAs, and he did not hesitate in identifying rookie wide receiver Denzel Boston. Boston somewhat surprisingly fell into the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, where the Browns took him at No. 39 overall. At 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, Boston would be noticeable even without making any plays, but he has backed up that size with good performances, showing skills as a route runner of any depth, and living up to his reputation for having excellent hands.
Boston alongside first-round pick KC Concepcion gives the Browns a legitimate young receiver duo that hasn’t existed here since… honestly, I’m not sure when.
Judkins Looks Ready to Roll
Quinshon Judkins looks fully recovered from the fractured leg and ankle injury last season, cutting and shifting without a brace — and the Browns have spent a lot of time installing run plays, which could end up being the strength of the offense with questionable quarterback play throughout OTAs.
Judkins said he feels confident in his game: “I know the work that I put in, so I’m prepared to just go out there and just put it on the field.” As Zac Jackson of The Athletic has noted, the second-year back has to be a central figure in the Browns’ offensive plans in 2026 — “If the 2026 Browns are going to score points, Judkins can’t be a maybe. He has to be a hit.”
Verse Settling In on Defense
Don’t forget the other seismic offseason move. The Browns traded two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the Rams for Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 third-rounder. A week after being acquired, Verse participated in his first team drills during minicamp, going through individual periods in the final week of OTAs before taking reps in 11-on-11 on day one of minicamp.
My Take: This QB Battle Is Far From Over
Here’s what I know after covering this team: Todd Monken is not going to hand Watson the job based on salary or reputation. Monken is going to go with whichever player gives him the best chance to win, period. That’s exactly the mentality this franchise has been missing.
Watson has the arm talent. Sanders has the hunger. Neither has been consistent enough to separate. And with a revamped offensive line, a rising star in Boston, and a healthy Judkins ready to carry the load, whichever quarterback ultimately starts may have fewer excuses than any Browns signal-caller has had in years.
Training camp can’t get here fast enough.
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