A quarterback battle in the Browns’ camp is nothing unheard of. Browns’ experts and anchors of the 92.3 The Fan show, Nick Wilson and Jonathan Peterlin, shared their take on the current QB1 battle between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson. 

Wilson shared that some factors, like drafting and signing of players, don’t make this look like a “legit true quarterback competition”.

“I don’t know who has the advantage here though. All the little markers you’re looking for that tell you whether it’s a legit, true QB competition or not, we don’t really have with this one,” said Nick Wilson on the 92.3 show.

According to them, the first report of a QB battle came when the Browns’ insider journalist, Mary Kay Cabot, announced that Watson gained an edge over Sanders to become the QB1. 

Wilson further added that the numbers Watson and Sanders have made in their last games for the Browns “aren’t remarkably better than the other”.

He shared that Watson’s 230 million contract came with injuries, while Sanders’ rookie year got him playing only seven games.

Per Zac Wassink, sports news writer at YardBarker, Watson signed a five-year fully-guaranteed contract worth $230 million with the Browns in 2022.

He recorded 1,148 yards and five touchdowns, with a completion rate of 63.4%. Shortly after, he tore his Achilles tendon in October 2024 and was in recovery mode till the end of the 2025 season.

Cade Cracas of the Cleveland Brown on SI reported that the Browns turned to Sanders to start seven games in 2025.

Sanders recorded 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns, with a completion rate of 56.6%. For a rookie who got drafted in the fifth round after much hype, Sanders had an average run in his first year. 

With both quarterbacks, carrying question marks, all eyes went to the head coach Todd Monken to see who he would go with.

Todd Monken Address the QB Battle Between Sanders and Watson

At the beginning of this month, HC Todd Monken appeared on “The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima” and addressed the QB competition.

“I would love to have that. I’m not there yet. So, I can’t say that,” answered Monken when asked to name a starter. 

Jacob Camenkar of USA Today reported that Monken wanted more time on the field with the roster before making his decision.

He concluded by saying that he will most likely have a solid answer after the OTAs and mandatory minicamp end on June 11. 

Who do you think should be the Browns' QB1, Shedeur Sanders or Deshaun Watson? Comments down below!

Read more at the Cleveland Browns Community!

Written by

Naomi Grace

Edited by

Utsav Gupta