The Browns' former offensive tackle, Joe Thomas, shared his take on the intense QB1 battle that’s brewing at Cleveland. This comes as the competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders is still ongoing.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, who spent the entirety of his eleven-year NFL journey with the Browns, issued a statement against QB Sanders on The Rich Eisen Show on 19 June. 

“The one thing Shedeur doesn’t exactly bring you right now is the ability to scramble,” said Thomas. “He’s not exceptional at using his legs to get a first down. Although he is very good at scrambling to make plays to be able to throw the football.”

When asked about which QB he thinks will start more games for the Browns, Thomas gave his honest opinion.

“I think coming out of the offseason, it seems like Deshaun Watson is probably going to be the guy going into training camp as the starter,” revealed Thomas on the Rich Eisen Show. “He looks pretty healthy coming off that Achilles tear that he had. I think the experience that he has playing football, the arm looks like it’s still there, and the legs look like they’ve come back.”

As per Yardbarker, while Watson held the initial edge, Sanders erased the gap by making massive, noticeable strides over the final two weeks of mandatory minicamp.

The former OT emphasized that having a clear starter provides stability and clarity for the rest of the team.

“If everybody’s asking you who’s looking better, who’s number one, who’s taking more reps, what’s going on at QB position, it just puts an extra layer of burden on you as you’re trying to figure out your fit within that offense," added Thomas.

Thomas concluded, saying that head coach Todd Monken wants a clear QB pecking order before splitting reps and helping stabilize the team ahead of training camp in July.

Monken extends QB1 decision to training camp

The Browns’ head coach, Monken, who is in his first year as a head coach, is extending the QB1 battle to training camp in July or to the two preseason games in August, per insider Zac Wassink of YardBarker.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler also shared what the Browns fans can expect from Monken once Sanders and Watson report for training camp next month.

“You know, it’s a new head coach. There is not a lot of precedent,” said Fowler. “I get the sense that Monken wants to see a lot more. He wants to ride this out and maybe be uncomfortable with the noise for an extra week if he has to.”

Fowler concluded by saying that while Watson is well-positioned, it’s unlikely that there will be a clear favorite of the Browns in the first two weeks of the season. 

Will training camp give an early answer to Monken on the Browns’ QB1?

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Written by

Naomi Grace

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi