The Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback battle between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson has continued to pique the interest of fans and NFL insiders. Browns’ insider journalist, Mary Kay Cabot, had reported in April that Watson had the “leg up” over Sanders. 

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler also chimed in on the current QB battle that has continued since April, with the Browns still undecided on their starter.

“This is a true, heated battle, and this one’s only going to heat up in training camp,” said Fowler on Thursday’s NFL Live. “As was told to me, Deshaun went into the spring as the clear favorites, and then Shedeur Sanders has bridged the gap somewhat.”

Per Timothy Rapp of Bleacher Report, Sanders provided “something of a spark” with his playmaking ability. He went 3-4 as a starter, while the Browns were at 2-8 in the games he didn’t start. Since then, the 24-year-old has been making progress, which is noticeable from the April OTAs to the June mandatory minicamp.

“Sanders was decisive,” said Fowler. “I was told he’s got a presence about him that the coaching staff noticed that they might have underestimated a bit.”

On the other hand, Watson comes with a decade-long experience in the NFL. The last he played was in 2024 before his Achilles tendon injury.

“I still believe Watson’s in a good position,” said Fowler. “I’m told he’s moving like a major athlete again, coming off those Achilles tears. He’s moving well, he’s fluid, looks like the athlete of old to most extents.”

Fowler confirmed head coach Monken’s belief that the QB1 competition will most likely go into the preseason. This revelation frustrated fans who have been waiting for a long time to know the Browns’ new QB1. 

Fans React to Extended QB1 Competition in the Browns Camp

With the Browns QB1 competition extending, fans expressed their disappointment and commented under the NFL on ESPN’s post on X. 

A fan questioned Browns about their QB1 between Watson, a three-time Pro Bowler, and Sanders, a one-time Pro Bowler.

“How do you pick between 2 Pro-Bowl QBs? Embarrassment of riches over there in Cleveland.”

 The Browns have invested $230 million into Watson, and now backing off from it seems a waste of such a huge amount. And hence the QB competition. 

A fan called out the ESPN analyst and commented, "Fowler, this isn't what you said last week!"

Fowler had revealed earlier that Watson was ahead of the QB competition, but Sanders was gaining momentum as the offseason progressed.

"Watson is just there to collect his pay check," said another fan.

Watson is in his last year of the contract with the Browns. His career depends on this season's performance. If he fails to wow the coaches, this could mean the end of his lucrative career.

Few fans agreed with the Browns’ move to take the competition to the preseason.

“A Browns QB Battle going into the preseason feels right. Cleveland doesn’t do quarterback clarity; it does annual psychological experiments with a playbook attached,” wrote a fan.

The Browns had a rollercoaster 2025 season as they rotated between 3 QBs, and ended the season with a record of 5-12.

Another fan commented on the post, hoping to get a good starting QB for the season.

"A gap that's closing? That's exactly what we needed. May the best QB earn that Week 1 nod, I'm here for every throw."

The competition between the QBs is fierce and has been going on since April, and with the current signs, it's expected to go into the preseason as well.

With the training camp approaching in July, the Sanders-Watson battle remains one of the Browns’ biggest unanswered questions. 

Who is your pick for the Browns QB1 for the 2026 season?

Read more at the Cleveland Browns Community!

Written by

Naomi Grace

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi