Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders was one of the biggest stars in college football before he entered the NFL. The former Colorado QB had a record-breaking 2024 season in which he recorded 4,134 passing yards and thirty seven touchdowns. Sanders also won the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
However, his NFL career has been a roller coaster ride. Widely expected to be a first-round prospect, Sanders suffered one of the most shocking draft falls in recent NFL history and was eventually selected by the Browns with 144th overall pick in the fifth round. Things continued to be difficult for Sanders after Dillon Gabriel opened the 2025 season as the Browns' starting quarterback following Deshaun Watson's injury.
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But, Shedeur finally got his chance after Gabriel suffered a concussion against the Baltimore Ravens. Shedeur played in eight games, including seven starts, during the 2025 NFL season, in which he recorded 1,400 passing yards and seven touchdowns. But the 10 interceptions dented his bid to become the Browns' QB1 for the 2026 season.
Sanders' shaky performances have triggered a quarterback competition between him and Deshaun Watson. Todd Monken has not named the starting quarterback for the 2026 season but he has named Deshaun Watson as the starter for the Browns' first preseason game against the Chicago Bears.
Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot, reporting after Monken's decision, said that Watson might have an edge in the battle. She said, "I think this shows that at this moment in time that Deshaun Watson has the slight edge in the competition."
"I think you would probably go ahead and start who you think might be your starting quarterback in the first preseason game. That's what makes sense to me. But next week is a pivotal week," she added.
Deshaun Watson might be in the lead right now but Shedeur Sanders has some key opportunities ahead of him to turn the competition in his favor.
