The Cleveland Browns have a quarterback competition on their hands, and it looks like an early leader is already pulling ahead.
Coming off a 5-12 season and another year without a playoff appearance, Cleveland's most pressing question heading into 2026 is who lines up under center on opening day. Veteran Deshaun Watson and second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders are the two names at the center of it all.
Dillon Gabriel and rookie Taylen Green are also in the room but neither is considered a serious candidate for the starting job right now.
According to Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot, Watson walked out of voluntary minicamp last week with the upper hand.
"Deshaun Watson emerged from the Browns voluntary minicamp last week with an edge over Shedeur Sanders in the two-man quarterback competition and has the inside track to be named the Browns QB1," Cabot wrote.
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Watson Finding His Footing in Cleveland
On the first day of minicamp, the only session open to media, Watson outperformed Sanders in decision-making, pre-snap processing and overall efficiency in the passing game. Cabot noted that the original plan was to give Sanders the first reps in team drills, but Watson's performance in 7-on-7s and 11-on-11s earned him more snaps than anticipated.
Reports suggest the timeline for a decision is also taking shape.
“Todd Monken hopes to declare — or at least identify — his starter by the end of Browns minicamp June 9-11, meaning Sanders has about six weeks to close the gap and try to overtake the former three-time Pro Bowler.” Cabot added. “But he’s got plenty of ground to make up, and will have to dazzle the coaching staff to land atop the depth chart heading into training camp.”
Part of what's working in Watson's favor is familiarity. He's learned multiple offensive systems throughout his career, and there's meaningful carryover into coordinator Todd Monken's scheme.
Monken's offense incorporates spread concepts and passing structures that Watson ran effectively during his time with the Houston Texans, and he's been picking it up quickly, per Cabot.
What Sanders Brings to the Table
Watson's path in Cleveland since signing his record $230 million deal in 2022 has been defined more by missed time and unmet expectations than anything on the field.
Injuries derailed multiple seasons and the Pro Bowl form that made him one of the league's most sought-after quarterbacks never fully returned.
Sanders arrived as a fifth-round pick in the 2025 draft and was thrust into action earlier than expected. He started seven games as a rookie, going 3-4 with 1,400 passing yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
His 169 rushing yards and ability to keep plays alive gave Browns fans a different look at the position than they had grown used to.
The competition is real and the next few weeks will go a long way in deciding Cleveland's direction at quarterback.
