The Cleveland Browns have a quarterback battle on their hands once again and all signs are pointing toward a controversial veteran winning the job over a second-year sensation.
Cleveland has become synonymous with quarterback futility and is hoping to fix that this season by solidifying a starter.
In the early battle between the injury-riddled Deshaun Watson and second-year star Shedeur Sanders, the Browns are leaning toward Watson, according to team insider Mary Kat Cabot.
Sources told Cabot that Watson has a slight edge in the Browns’ offseason minicamp so far.
The report says Watson has an edge because he’s ‘had to learn many new systems over the past ten seasons’ and that there is ‘carryover in terms of both terminology and plays.’
Additionally, Cabot reports that new Browns head coach Todd Monken runs an offense that ‘features some of the same spread and other passing concepts that Watson excelled in with the Texans.’
Deshaun Watson (R) reportedly has the edge over Shedeur Sanders (L) in the Browns QB battle
New Browns head coach Todd Monken hopes to choose his starting QB by mid-June
Watson (4) has been dealing with injuries and off-field issues stemming from sexual misconduct lawsuits while Sanders (2) struggled in his first season in the league last year
Cabot adds that Monken hopes to identify his starting quarterback by the time minicamp ends on June 11.
This would give Sanders and Watson six weeks to prove their case to the new coach.
Watson’s career has been hampered by a slew of injuries as well as numerous off-field issues stemming from multiple lawsuits accusing him of sexual misconduct and assault.
In the 2023 season, Watson fractured his shoulder and only started six games that campaign.
In Week 7 of the 2024 season, he tore his Achilles tendon – which resulted in him missing the remainder of the 2024 campaign and the entirety of the 2025 season.
As for Sanders, he struggled in his first season – completing 56 percent of his passes for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and ten interceptions.
The Browns have only made the playoffs twice in the last ten seasons and have gone a combined 8-26 in the last two campaigns.
