Cleveland Browns owner praises Shedeur Sanders amid quarterback competition with Deshaun Watson

From six quarterbacks in the 2025 offseason to just two. Actually, three: two 2025 draft picks, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, and one longtime injured veteran, Deshaun Watson. Who is who’s favorite? This 2026 offseason may declare.From meeting new head coach Todd Monken on the very first day to sending a gold horse for the coach’s birthday, Sanders sure knows how to impress. The same scenario happened to Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam.

Shedeur Sanders gains education while Deshaun Watson gets a great chance in Cleveland

Haslam told beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot that when he was in Cleveland for two or three weeks, he saw the second-year QB working out early. Haslam said it showed Sanders’ dedication that the signal caller spent most of the winter in Cleveland, demonstrating his will to be an NFL quarterback and his understanding of what it takes to be one. “His body looks better,” Haslam said during the NFL Owners Meetings in Phoenix. “He’s been working hard. It’s hard for a lot of college kids to understand what it takes to play in the NFL, and particularly as a quarterback. Shedeur got an education in that, and my instincts are he’ll come back ready to play.”Such high hopes were placed on a rookie entering the second year of his contract. While what does the veteran get? Watson was called a “big swing and miss” in the 2025 offseason.

The veteran missed the whole season. He is now healthy, desperately waiting to return to the gridiron. So, now Haslam says Watson has a “great chance” and can have a “fresh start” with first-year head coach Todd Monken. Monken was the offensive coordinator for the Lamar Jackson-led Baltimore Ravens in 2025. He worked under renowned head coach John Harbaugh, who is now with the Jaxson Dart-led New York Giants.Anyhow, how would Watson have a great chance? Haslam told Browns beat reporters at the NFL Owners Meetings in Phoenix: “Deshaun has a great chance, a fresh start, and an offensive-minded coach, who has in his past been able to work with all kinds of different quarterbacks and make them successful.”Monken has traveled in and out of college and NFL coaching over the past three decades. He himself was a college quarterback. The coach has worked with QBs: Stetson Bennett in Georgia Bulldogs, Jameis Winston in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Baker Mayfield in Cleveland.Bennett became a Heisman finalist and a back-to-back national champion. Winston is currently with Monken’s close colleague, John Harbaugh, in New York.

Whereas Mayfield was traded to the Carolina Panthers shortly after Cleveland acquired Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans. Now that feels like a full circle. For Watson and for Monken.Anyhow, Haslam also praised Watson, saying, “We talked to him the other day, and he said he weighs the least he has in several years. He’s in great shape. He’ll be in Cleveland on April 7 when we start the [offseason workout program].

Let’s see what Deshaun can do. We’re all excited.”

Open QB competition in Cleveland between Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel

A quarterback competition sounds exciting. But for the past few years, Cleveland has not had a steady QB. When Baker Mayfield was getting great [first playoff victory in 26 years], he was traded. Then they brought in Watson from Houston, who has only played 19 games since 2022. Then the QB competition between six QBs in 2025.While 2025 saw two rookies struggling to hold the fort, they ultimately fell short, finishing with a 5-12 record.

Both young signal-callers were clearly trying to acclimatize to the NFL gridiron. Now, with Watson’s veteran presence back in the mix, these second-year QBs may finally have the support they need to do more than just survive.Anyhow, there will be an open competition for the starting QB spot in 2026 among the two second-year players and Watson. Sanders looks more than prepared. He recently gave up his No. 12 jersey, with which he went 3-4 as a rookie starter in Cleveland. He adopted the No. 2 jersey he wore during his successful high school and college days under his father, legendary cornerback Deion Sanders. The No. 2 jersey was unavailable in his rookie year as it was worn by the-then Browns veteran wide receiver and return specialist, DeAndre Carter. Carter is currently unsigned as a free agent.

So, that brings us to: would Sanders become a starter for the Browns in 2026? Only time will tell…