The Cleveland Browns quarterback situation is a mess, with second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders battling Deshaun Watson to start for first-year head coach Todd Monken. Neither player really makes the toes tingle for the win-starved fans in The Land.
Where have we heard that before? Oh yeah. Basically, we’ve heard it every single season since the team returned to the NFL in 1999, with the exception for a brief time the organization had some stability under center with Baker Mayfield.
Watson’s Record Contract Hasn’t Paid Off
The Browns pulled up the Brinks truck for Watson in March 2022, and the return has been about as good as investing all of your savings in the Zune back in 2006. It would have been a terrible investment. Then, imagine if your Zune was initially suspended, then damaged, then working sporadically, then damaged again.
Watson enters the final year of a five-year contract, with an average annual salary of $46 million, and he has given the Browns about $1,500 worth of solid play in his time with the organization. That being said, the flamboyant Sanders appears to be trailing badly in the bid to start.
The two signal callers have been rotating first-team offense reps this week, including joint practices with superstar quarterback Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. The Bills are a model of stability that the Cleveland organization can only dream of having.
Sanders is reportedly getting a fair shot at winning the job. He has a salary cap hit of just $1.1 million on his rookie deal, while Watson has a cap hit of $40.9 million, lowered from $80.716 million, thanks to a restructuring in the spring.
So, Browns management is likely hoping Watson can give them something to lessen the sting of what is widely being called the worst contract in NFL history. A Pro Bowl performance in 2026 by Watson, albeit unlikely, would still not wash away the bad taste of that ridiculous deal.
Sanders’ Last Chance to Change the Decision
Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
The reports are that Watson is not lighting the world on fire in practice. He isn’t making it tough for the Browns to do what they likely want to do anyway, and that is get some kind of return on Watson before he heads out the door.
Sanders likes to hold up his wrist for his signature watch gesture, which goes back to his time earning expensive accoutrements at the University of Colorado. He might have to bide his time, for now, though, watching Watson under center, at least to start the season.
Sanders will have one final chance to wow the brass in his preseason game start against the Bills Saturday afternoon. It seems like the decision on the regular-season starter is already made, though.
Knowing Cleveland football, though, the Browns are going to Browns. If Sanders doesn’t miraculously win the starting job, we’ll likely see him sooner, rather than later, either due to a Watson injury, or struggles on (or off) the field. Or, the organization will surprise everyone, and use Dillon Gabriel. Or, rookie Taylen Green will see the field. Because, Browns.
