Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders? The Browns will face this dilemma in the 2026 season. Who will they pick?

Andrew Berry has said that they will look into the QB market, but Deshaun Watson is a big speedbreaker there.

Watson is under a fully guaranteed 5-year, $230 million contract that started in 2022. That means the Browns owe him the money whether he plays or not.

Keeping him on the team carries an estimated 2026 cap figure near $40 million. They can't release him because that will just double the previous amount.

Trading is also not a great option. If they trade him before June 1, the Browns will have to pay around $80 million of dead cap.

They can split the amount between 2026 and 2027 if they trade him after June 1, but the amount is the same. That is why the Cleveland Browns' General Manager, Andrew Berry, has talked about keeping Watson on the roster.

What the Browns can do about the QB dilemma

“Look, I can never predict the future, but right now we do anticipate him being on the 2026 team. But we have a long way to go before we get to that point with any player," he said. Now they can start him as well, but past performance does not vote in his favor.

Watson has a 9-10 record as a starter with 3,365 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, missing the entire season while rehabbing.

Shedeur Sanders does seem like a better option. In less than half a season, Sanders had a passer rating of 68.1 with 1,400 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 8 games this season. While the Browns have not committed to him. He is the cleanest option while the franchise waits for financial flexibility.

Written by

Reyansh Dubey

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar