Latest Browns head coach Todd Monken said earlier within the offseason his preference can be for a starting quarterback to be in place ahead of coaching camp. As a substitute, the competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders will proceed through the summer.
The perception with respect to which passer holds the lead on this case has shifted over time. Things can after all change once padded practices and preseason games begin, but in the intervening time Watson is seen as being within the lead. That is predicted to stay the case leading as much as training camp.
A “strong sense” exists across the league that Watson will find yourself getting the nod for 2026, SportsBoom’s Jason La Canfora reports. Funds have been cited as the first cause. Watson has one 12 months remaining on the fully guaranteed deal he signed upon arrival in Cleveland following the blockbuster trade which ended his Texans tenure. That acquisition has proven to be certainly one of the worst missteps in NFL history, but a full season with Watson atop the depth chart could allow for Cleveland to recoup some value. Owner Jimmy Haslam previously labeled the Watson move a “swing and miss,” although his stance on that front has since modified to a level.
The role of ownership in the unique Watson trade/signing has long been a talking point. Watson spending 2026 atop the depth chart would little question add further to the assumption Monken and general manager Andrew Berry have received pressure to present the 30-year-old one other opportunity following poor play and two Achilles tears. Alternatively, ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi writes Watson has looked healthy during spring practices while also showing increased aggression regarding his downfield passing in comparison with his last on-field appearances.
Monken has offered praise for Sanders prematurely of the 2025 fifth-rounder’s first training camp including work with the starting offense. La Canfora adds Monken stays “very much interested” in evaluating Sanders through training camp and the preseason. The 24-year-old logged seven starts to shut out his rookie season, and his showing if/when he finds himself on the sector in 2026 could go a great distance in determining how the Browns plan for a QB move next spring.
This example shall be one to look at closely because the summer unfolds. For now, though, Watson appears to be in pole position leading into training camp, and a stretch of games as QB1 to open the 2026 campaign wouldn’t come as a surprise to league observers.