With Deshaun Watson set to return, the battle to win the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback position has gotten trickier. However, a new report from a Browns insider is clearing up the team's quarterback plans

According to Mary Kay Cabot, the Browns’ management had decided not to add another starter to the mix, which already has three players. 

“I came away from Indy thinking that the Browns were ready to go forward with Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders and see what they could do with those two guys in a competition,” Cabot said on 92.3 The Fan. 

“But, once again, anything can change on a dime when we get to this point in the NFL season.”

Experts have long predicted a cutthroat competition between Sanders and Watson. But what do the players offer? The 30-year-old has recovered from his two Achilles injuries and boasts a stronger resume than Sanders.

Watson played in only 19 games in four years, but passed 3,365 yards and scored 19 touchdowns against 12 interceptions. But his performance is not impressive considering his $230 million guaranteed contract for five seasons. Watson proved to be a massive letdown to the franchise. 

And on the other hand, 24-year-old Sanders did not leave a lasting impression either. He appeared mid-season in Week 11 and threw only eight touchdowns for 1,400 yards. Sanders lacks the experience Watson has, leaving them both vying for the QB 1 position in training camp. 

The Browns Can’t Afford Another Quarterback Gamble

And this is not the first time the Browns have found themselves in a tricky situation. The franchise has gone through more than five quarterbacks in the past two seasons.

This was one of the reasons why they only managed a 5-12 record in 2025. The franchise suffered due to other players, too. Unreliable offensive linemen and wide receivers made the play inconsistent.

While the defensive unit blossomed under Jim Schwartz, the same could not be said for the offensive unit. Maybe that's why new head coach Todd Monken is taking is time.

 "I'm excited about Shedeur (Sanders), excited about Deshaun (Watson) and Dillon (Gabriel). I'm excited about the prospects, not only in free agency but also in the draft and we'll see where it all falls," he said during the 2026 NFL Combine.

However, the franchise will also have to consider cap space. Watson’s salary cap rests at $80.3 million, and the Browns will need time to recover from the massive hit.

So what do you think is the solution? Comment your thoughts and follow the Cleveland Browns Community for more.

Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi