Browns' Future Plans Revealed After Shedeur Sanders Decision

Now the focus shifts to Week 2, where Watson gets a second straight road start against Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It’s a reunion game for Mayfield, and a measuring stick moment for Cleveland’s veteran quarterback.

According to ESPN’s Ian Rapoport, the Browns plan to evaluate Watson’s performance after these first two games. There’s no decision locked in for Week 3 yet, but those opening two matchups appear to be the checkpoint Cleveland is building toward.

Another rough outing from Watson could mean a change once the team returns home for Week 3, putting Sanders back under center sooner than most expected entering the year.

Rookie Taylen Green sits third on the depth chart behind both of them. A win and a clean performance from Watson against Tampa Bay would simplify things considerably. A repeat of Week 1 complicates the picture fast.

Either way, Cleveland is working toward one larger answer by season’s end: whether Watson is the long-term guy under center.

With multiple first-round picks already in hand for the 2027 draft, the Browns also have the ammunition to chase a top quarterback prospect if this season doesn’t provide clarity on its own.

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