Deshaun Watson may have more NFL experience than Shedeur Sanders, but one analyst believes his biggest obstacle isn't competition, it's his health.

Citing Watson's injury history and recent setbacks, Steven of Stadium Rant argued the Browns should turn to Sanders instead of relying on a quarterback coming off multiple Achilles injuries.

“A double Achilles rupture ends most careers. But betting a season on a quarterback who has not stayed healthy for a full year since 2020 is exactly the kind of decision that gets coaching staffs fired,” Steven wrote July 13. 

The analyst argued that Watson's biggest challenge isn't winning the competition itself, but proving his body can withstand an NFL season

The prediction adds to growing questions surrounding Watson's durability. Recently, Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot highlighted that his arm, with a history of injury and surgery, slowed him down.

“He [Deshaun Watson] needs to get some proper rest over the break because I thought his arm seemed to tail off a little. Maybe he got the slightest bit of fatigue in his surgically repaired shoulder,” she said on the Orange and Brown Talk podcast.

Steven argued that Sanders' durability gives him an advantage over Watson and that Sanders should be the Browns' starting QB this season.

The 30-year-old veteran ruptured his right Achilles tendon in October 2024 and sustained another injury to the same place in 2025, missing the entire season.

“Monken knows it. The front office knows it. Even if Watson wins August, can anyone in Cleveland trust him to be standing in December?” Steven of Stadium Rant further asked. 

The Browns traded for Watson from the Houston Texans and signed him for five years with a guaranteed contract worth $230 million. In the past four years, he has played in just 19 games.

Meanwhile, in 2025, Sanders ended the season as the team’s lead passer with 1,400 yards. He threw seven touchdowns and ten interceptions from his mid-season debut in Week 10.

While the debate over Cleveland's starting quarterback continues, one analyst believes the Browns' decision could arrive sooner than expected.

Analyst predicts when Cleveland could settle its QB battle

Watson's health has become central to Cleveland's quarterback competition, making the timing of the Browns' decision even more significant.

Earlier, Deshaun Watson appeared as the frontrunner in the Cleveland Browns race, but now Shedeur Sanders is believed to win the job.

That announcement might come at the end of this month.  

“The first open practices kick off July 31, and every rep will be dissected. But barring an injury or a total August collapse, the outcome feels clear,” Steven wrote for Stadium Rant in the same article.

He opined that Sanders “earned the first crack” with his rookie performance, and his development since has only strengthened it. He also noted that since 1999, the Browns have had 40 quarterbacks. 

If Steven's prediction proves accurate, Sanders could soon take another step toward becoming Cleveland's long-term answer under center, while Watson's future remains uncertain.

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Rudra Dubey