The Cleveland Browns have not yet finalized their starting quarterback for this season. As recent reports suggest, Deshaun Watson is leading the competition, a Shedeur Sanders supporter is upset and outright dismissed Watson.

“Do we forget that we saw Shedeur make throws we hadn't seen quarterbacks make in two years?” Justin Charles asked. “For once in my life, I was excited about what I was seeing. And now we're just going back to the same garbage?”

Charles is the co-host of The Dawgs, a Browns podcast, sharing his “dissatisfaction” with the notion of Watson taking over as QB 1 instead of Sanders. 

“I know it's a new system, a new coach, but I'm just not interested at all in Deshaun Watson,” he was seen telling Josh Aul in an X post shared on May 18.

Charles’ statement comes after a recent report suggesting head coach Todd Monken and Watson have “hit it off,” and he could certainly start the season.

“[Deshaun Watson] will be a factor in OTAs when they start going with first-team reps, second-team reps,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Sunday on SportsCenter. “...I’m told he’s hit it off with Todd Monken, who’s got an offensive concept, some elements that Watson has run in the past and been his best at.”

This is a positive development for the 30-year-old veteran who is returning to the field after an injury that set his career back. However, he has not won over Aul, given his past performances with the Browns.

“He's just 8-10 in FOUR seasons (69 games) with Cleveland,” the X post said of Watson’s stats with the franchise. His performance is disproportionate to the guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract he signed.

As Aul is upset at Sanders’ trajectory, an expert has full faith in Monken to make the right choice. 

All Hope Not Lost For Shedeur Sanders

The latest report from Jeremy Fowler is a reason to worry for Shedeu Sanders, overshadowed by Deshaun Watson in the QB1 race. However, Albert Breer believes that head coach Todd Monken will make a sound judgment.

“I do believe head coach Todd Monken is going to be fair about it. What does that mean? To me, it means no one’s getting anointed. The best man will win,” Breer wrote for Sports Illustrated on May 18.

He further added that the Browns are paying attention to him, given the contract they offered him.

“And, yes, I think the Browns would like to get one last long look at the quarterback they’re spending $230 million on.”

So far, Watson has only appeared in 28% of the games. While he was recovering from his twice-ruptured right Achilles tendon, the Browns drafted Sanders as the 144th pick in 2025. He played from Week 11 and started in seven games.

The 24-year-old passed for 1,400 yards and threw seven touchdowns against 10 interceptions. 

Sanders threw TDs in Week 14, played in the last two games of the season, which the Browns won, and is already a Pro Bowler.

This season is a turning point for Watson, the other names on the QB roster, and Monken, too. Who do you think will ultimately start? 

Read more at the Cleveland Browns Community!

Written by

Akanksha Biradar