Why it's clear that Shedeur Sanders is trailing Deshaun Watson in Browns' QB competition

The biggest story hovering over the Cleveland Browns throughout the spring has involved the fact that numerous reports have made it known that Deshaun Watson has a clear lead in the competition for the team's starting quarterback job over Shedeur Sanders.

For a mailbag published over the weekend, Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer expanded on why Watson is penciled in atop the club's depth chart on the opening day of June. 

Deshaun Watson has simply outperformed Shedeur Sanders this spring

"Only two of the six practices have been open to the media," Cabot wrote about the Browns' OTAs, "but in those sessions, Watson appeared to be serving as QB1 in many key drills. He’s also hit far more explosive plays in the two open practices, and sources have said it’s been similar on the closed days."

The Browns allegedly won't bring Watson back for another campaign even if he plays well later this year. That said, first-year Cleveland head coach Todd Monken seems keen on starting the quarterback who is deemed to be the team's best option instead of using the upcoming season as a way to evaluate Sanders. 

Watson has made just 19 regular-season starts since the Browns acquired him from the Houston Texans and then signed him to a fully guaranteed five-year, $230M contract in March 2022. He hasn't taken a meaningful in-game snap since he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in October 2024. 

"Watson has taken off running on some option plays in OTAs, and has looked fast and mobile enough on those plays," Cabot explained. "He’s no (2026 sixth-round draft pick) Taylen Green, who runs a blistering 4.36 in the 40, but he’s definitely quick enough to get the job done on some keepers and designed runs. The Browns have been pleasantly surprised with his mobility coming off two surgeries to repair the Achilles, and will account for it in the plays designed for Watson. But they also believe Sanders has plenty enough mobility to run many of the same plays."

Shedeur Sanders gets one piece of good news

It's believed that Monken could name a QB1 before Cleveland's mandatory minicamp wraps up on June 11. That said, it sounds like Watson shouldn't begin preparing to start the Browns' Week 1 game at the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 13 just yet.

"It’s certainly not over yet," Cabot added. "The QBs haven’t faced anything close to the starting defense yet, with key players such as (pass-rusher) Myles Garrett, (cornerback) Denzel Ward and (safety) Grant Delpit skipping all or most of OTAs so far. Even though Watson looks to be ahead, we don’t really know the discussion or strategy taking place behind the scenes. We do know that the staff has been very impressed with Shedeur Sanders’ progress since the voluntary minicamp, so anything can still happen."

Whether or not that "anything" involves Sanders remaining in contention to win the QB1 gig through the end of the Browns' mandatory minicamp shall be seen.