Browns insider offers huge update on possible Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson QB competition

If recently hired Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken had to begin training camp practices this weekend, it's likely that 2025 rookie Shedeur Sanders and veteran Deshaun Watson would be the main figures in a competition for the starting quarterback job. 

Recent whispers have hinted that the Browns could look to land an advertised upgrade over Sanders and Watson via free agency or a trade. However, Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer shared on the latest edition of the "Orange and Brown Talk Podcast" that Sanders and Watson seem to be just about even in the race to win the QB1 gig this winter. 

Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson "neck and neck" early into quarterback competition

"I was asked on the radio this morning, what percent chance do I think Deshaun Watson has of starting the opener? And I said 40 percent right now," Cabot explained. "I think right now that it would probably be 40 for Shedeur, 40 for Deshaun and 20 for someone else. So I think those two guys heading into this whole thing are probably kind of running neck and neck."

Monken not simply handing Sanders the starting job this spring makes sense even though the 24-year-old won three of seven starts as a rookie. After all, Pro Football Reference stats show that Sanders finished the regular season ranked last in the NFL among qualified players with a 56.6 percent completion percentage, 41st with a 68.1 passer rating and 40th with a dreadful 18.9 adjusted QBR. 

That said, Watson mostly failed to impress over the bulk of his first 19 regular-season starts with the Browns up until he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in October 2024. He hasn't taken a meaningful in-game snap since, as he ultimately needed more surgery after he re-injured the Achilles during his recovery.

Why Shedeur Sanders may have early edge over Deshaun Watson

Monken and Watson are reportedly "eager to work together once the offseason program begins in April." Nevertheless, Cabot suggested Sanders could have an early advantage in the upcoming competition due to something Monken said during his Browns introductory news conference.

"I think another thing that we haven’t talked a bunch about yet is the fact that Todd Monken mentioned the 'it factor' when he is looking for traits in a quarterback," Cabot said. "And I think that’s one thing that Shedeur established last year. I think he showed that he has the 'it factor,' that he gets in the zone when the game is on the line and he’s aggressive and he’s accurate, for the most part, and he’s tough."

Cabot added that Sanders has "uncanny accuracy" and can "fit that ball into some really tight windows and put it on the money." It remains to be seen if he'll improve upon such aspects of his game with Watson looking over his shoulder this spring and summer.