Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson found themselves in the middle of a quarterback competition after Todd Monken took over as the Cleveland Browns’ head coach in 2026. The Browns ended the 2025 NFL season with a disappointing 5-12 record. This meant Monken had to figure out which quarterback was better equipped to help the Browns bounce back. Sanders and Watson emerged as the two favorites, with Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green also competing within the quarterback room.
The competition lived up to expectations as Sanders and Watson fought tooth and nail to impress Monken. After an intriguing training camp and the Browns’ first two preseason games against the Chicago Bears and the Buffalo Bills, Monken decided to name Watson the starter over Sanders.
Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
While Watson was named the starter and Sanders his backup, Gabriel was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return after suffering a back injury during the Browns’ final preseason game against the New England Patriots. This also meant that Green made the Browns’ initial 53-man roster as QB3.
When we all thought the order was settled, Monken decided to stir speculation before the Browns’ first regular-season game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. When asked if Green could be ahead of Sanders as QB2, Monken said, “Could be. There could be a package where we have him.”
Monken also left open the possibility of using all three quarterbacks, saying, “I know that’s the word — possibly. It’s possible that we could use him in that.”
But the speculation has been brought to an end as the Browns have announced their decision to name Sanders the backup on their unofficial depth chart.
This means Sanders is very much in the mix, and if Watson fails to live up to expectations, Monken could look to the Browns’ future and decide to give Sanders a chance during the 2026 NFL season. The Browns play their first game of the 2026 season against the Jaguars on September 13.
