Derek Carr has a surprising take on the Browns' quarterback dilemma. Instead of looking to the draft, the former QB believes the answer is already in their building with Shedeur Sanders and a returning Deshaun Watson.

The host of Home Grown with David & Derek Carr addressed the Browns QB crisis in a recent episode.

“Would you not sign up for that if you’re a Cleveland Browns fan? Shedeur is excited. Especially. Let’s not forget about Deshaun,” he said. “We got Deshaun’s there, too. Lot of quarterbacks, so we’re good. We got enough talent in that room to win football. But I guess what? If we aren’t upright, it don’t matter.”

The Browns have yet to announce their starting quarterback for the upcoming season. After the underwhelming performances last year, which resulted in a 5-12 season, they and fans are left wondering if a new QB would fix their offense. 

And the name most widely associated with the Browns is Alabama’s Ty Simpson. However, the four-time Pro Bowler advised the Browns to build on their existing talent. Carr opined that the Browns should simply build on the talent that exists.

24-year-old Shedeur Sanders showed flashes of brilliance in his rookie season. He scored three touchdowns in Week 14 against the Tennessee Titans and concluded the year with seven passing TD for 1,400 yards against 10 INT.

The former Colorado Buffs star carried the franchise without a reliable offense to support him and has been widely considered to win the starting position in 2026. At the same time, the team also has Deshaun Watson in the squad.

Watson, 30, is returning in his final season with the Browns and has fully recovered from his Achilles injuries. In the last four years, he played in 19 games and scored 17 touchdowns for 3,365 yards.

Carr's advice, however, sparks a debate.

The Deshaun Watson vs Shedeur Sanders Debate Rages On

In this year’s annual NFL meeting, new head coach Todd Monken revealed that his plan to divide snaps is based on a QB’s past performance. And while he praised Sanders’ efforts in the offseason, calling them “refreshing”, Monken did not rave about Watson so much.

“I wouldn't say they're going to be evenly dispersed. By basically what we've seen in the past and where the year ended last year,” he told reporters. 

Yet, Watson has entered the competition to win the QB1 position most surprisingly. Franchise owner Jimmy Haslam, who had called him a “swing and a miss” trade, has adopted a “cautiously optimistic” attitude at his return. 

So, if the Browns don’t pick a new QB, who would they choose? Watson, who has experience or Sanders, who is younger and uninjured? 

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar