JJ Watt Hits Shedeur Sanders With a Reality Check on Browns Situation

Sanders was drafted later than Gabriel in the 2025 NFL Draft, which proves that the Browns were higher on him. That said, most analysts and scouts thought that Sanders was the far better prospect.

The Browns officially made Sanders the backup quarterback this week, but that doesn't mean there are plans to play him anytime soon. Watt took to social media to further expand on his reasoning for saying that Cleveland is committed to Gabriel.

"If the Browns thought Shedeur Sanders would give them a better chance to win, he would start," Watt wrote on X. "And maybe that day does come. I know there are many people out there very much looking forward to seeing what he’s capable of at this level if given the chance. Myself included. But jobs and livelihoods are on the line, coaches and front offices don’t just hold players back for no reason. They need to win and they need to win fast. They’ll do whatever it takes for that to happen."

Now, Gabriel just hasn't shown much for the Browns yet, which will only lead to the noise surrounding Sanders to get louder. Watt suggested that Cleveland may have made a mistake by selecting two quarterbacks so close together back in April.

"This is the position they put themselves in when they drafted two QBs in the same class in the first 5 rounds," Watt added. "Whoever got the first chance to play was always going to have the potential distraction of the other QB and the 'what if' factor. It leaves no room for error, making mistakes, growing, maturing and getting the benefit of the doubt in the court of public opinion."