Deshaun Watson is currently busy fighting for his position with fellow quarterback Shedeur Sanders in Cleveland. According to recent offseason practice reports, Sanders has made rapid improvements, making the situation even more dicey.

With time running out, Watson has found himself in a precarious position. Now another NFL insider has spoken against Watson. Zak Jackson of The Athletic gave his own side of the story on the  Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show.

 "I think if Deshaun Watson starts the first six games, it will be the disaster that it’s always been," said Jackson. " They’ll be 1-5 at best. … There's just no upside to playing Deshaun Watson."

Interestingly, the last time Watson was a QB1, he started the season 1-6, which makes Jackson's prediction not very far-fetched.

"This team is rebuilding," Jackson further said on the Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show. "This team is pointing towards the future. The only thing that makes even a little bit of sense to me is play Shedeur Sanders, let him learn, let him develop, find out about him. Deshaun Watson — you’ve been driving down the wrong road for five years. You’ve got to turn around at some point."

Watson is on the wrong side of 30 (soon to turn 31) and is in the last year of his contract with the Browns.

Sanders, on the other hand, is new and fresh. He threw 1400 yards in his last season with 7 TD's. Jackson's take on the Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show strongly resonates with that belief.

Moreover, Watson has also missed multiple games between 2022 and 2025 because of suspension and injuries. So using him over Sanders would certainly be a risk.

Meanwhile, former wide receiver Chad 'Ochocinco' Johnson has already made his pick. Most importantly, Ochocico's choice would certainly surprise Zak Jackson.

NFL legend has already picked his preferred Quarterback

The Cleveland Browns might still be tentative about their first pick, but Ochocinco has seen enough to make a call.

"Deshaun Watson is the starting QB for the Cleveland Brown," he said on the Nightcap Podcast, "It is his job to lose. He has six weeks. I guarantee you. He has six weeks to make sure that team is playing above or better than whatever the expectations might be for that team and that quarterback."

While Todd Monken is still determined not to make a final call till preseason training camp goes underway, the speculation is still on.

Cleveland Browns Mark Kay Cabot had also spoken about how Shedeur Sanders has since then shortened the gap between him and Watson.

They spoke candidly on the Orange and Brown podcast.

“Deshaun Watson was decidedly ahead at that point," said Cabot, "And then Shedeur Sanders went to work and really narrowed the gap.” 

So opinions are divided, and each quarterback has their own supporters. At this point, it's more like a coin toss on who gets the final job as QB1. So which side are you on?

Read more at the Cleveland Browns Community!

Written by

Sourav Ganguly

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote