The Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback race just got more competitive. After trailing behind, Shedeur Sanders has pulled himself up to give Deshaun Watson competition in their toss-up.

“Suddenly, he had caught Watson from behind to make it a tight race heading into camp, and even seized the momentum during mandatory minicamp this week,” Mary Kay Cabot wrote on June 13.

Sanders’ efforts to overcome the gap between himself and Watson twist the race, whose frontrunner has been the 30-year-old veteran. Cabot had rallied behind Watson in her April 29 report, which stated that he had the “inside track” to be named QB1.

Both Sanders and Watson led with first-team snaps, but faults have marred the 24-year-old quarterback’s play. Last week on X, ESPN Cleveland shared where all the QBs stood after the mandatory mini-camp. Sanders was 10/13 completions behind Watson’s 14/18.

Head coach Todd Monken had called his two interceptions “embarrassing,” but Sanders is not upset over criticism. Instead, he learnt from his mistakes and shared that Monken reminds him of someone.

“Seems like a guy that I’m real familiar with,” Sanders said, referring to his dad, Deion Sanders. “So, I enjoy it. I definitely like (Monken’s) expectations he has for us, and it gives you no choice but to be great or to get out the way. I think it’s just that simple.” 

Monken’s “hard coaching” to prepare the team for their first season with him has resulted in a notable difference in Sanders’ performance. 

“If I say I’m dedicating everything I have to be great and that’s just what I’m going to do,” Sanders said Wednesday on Day 2 of the three-day minicamp. “I think now you can understand I’m a man of my word a little bit more.” 

Cabot wrote that he has an “excellent chance” to take over as the starting QB after ending the 2025 season as one.

Sanders, who gained 1,400 passing yards and seven passing touchdowns in his rookie season, has been working to earn the QB 1 status. The coaching staff has taken note of all the improvements he has made. 

Head Coach Todd Monken Reveals Shedeur Sanders’ Most Important Changes

Todd Monken is tackling the Cleveland Browns’ persistent problem of not holding a starting quarterback for too long. With four names on the QB roster, it is a crowded one.

Monken has been assessing Shedeur Sanders for long and noted what’s doing well.

“I just think he’s doing a better job. I think he’s being more decisive,” he said, per of 92.3 The Fan’s Daryl Ruiter. “The ball’s coming out of his hands. Not that he doesn’t have playmaking ability, because he does. He has to be able to stack plays and score, which is ultimately the No. 1 thing to do.”

Last season, he was sacked 23 times and was called out for hasty plays. On the flip side, he also showed great judgement resulted in a four-touchdown (three passing and one rushing) starting performance in Week 14. 

Whether he beats Deshaun Watson to it and starts this season is still undecided. What are your thoughts?

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar