The Browns’ starting quarterback competition between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson has been a point of contention during the offseason. 

Head coach Todd Monken stated that the Browns have “two starting-level quarterbacks” at the OTAs. However, Browns’ insider Jimmy Watkins opined that Monken can take it easy by choosing Sanders. 

“Start the kid,” said Watkins in his statement to Monken to make an easy decision between Sanders and Watson. 

Watkins said that Watson was a “starting-level QB” during his time with the Houston Texans, where he earned three Pro-Bowl honors. He added that the veteran's competition with a fifth-round pick, after six years, three surgeries, and 19 starts, tells the story of who has more potential.

Watkins derived that under these circumstances, one of the two things is true: either Watson has lost his star power or Sanders, who was the fifth-round pick, holds more promise. He concluded that by logic, the answer for the QB1 spot is Shedeur Sanders. 

Watkins added that even though Sanders only started seven games last season, he did show enough “playmaking promise” to get noticed by coaches. Furthermore, the Browns insider pointed out that coaches have said that the young QB is “taking subtle and important strides” during the offseason. 

Coach Monken has also been vocal about Sanders and praising him for the progress he’s made when compared to the last season. Per Rafael Zamorano of the Cleveland Browns on SI, the coach appreciated Sanders’ saying that he’s making quicker decisions and has playmaking abilities. 

Watkins summarized Watson’s experience, injury history, and his $230 million contract with the Browns and came to the conclusion, i.e., “the best Watson outcome still carries significant risk”.

Watkins wrapped up saying that Sanders, at just 24 years of age, has more time to improve on his flaws. His contract still has three years left, compared to Watson’s one, giving the Browns all the more reason to invest in Sanders instead of the almost 31-year-old. 

Browns’ QB1 Battle Heads to Training Camp

Coach Monken spoke with reporters on Thursday after the mandatory minicamp. He clarified that he hasn’t been able to choose his QB1 pick, but had strategies to make that decision easy for him. 

“Monken means practice settings with something close to full contact on everyone but the quarterbacks,” wrote Zac Jackson of The Athletic. “He means longer, more intense summer practices with something close to a real pass rush and more reps logged by each competitor.”

Monken added that if there’s still no winner in the regular camp settings, the deciding factors would be the preseason games and joint practices with the Buffalo Bills. 

Monken concluded by saying that he expects his quarterbacks, Sanders and Watson, to show more consistency and confidence when they come back for the training camp in July. 

What are your thoughts on this QB battle?

Read more at the Cleveland Browns Community!

Written by

Naomi Grace

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi