Analyst believes Shedeur Sanders has upper hand in Browns' QB battle

The Cleveland Browns may boast the NFL's most dominant defensive player in Myles Garrett, but clarity at quarterback remains elusive heading into 2026. An open competition between Shedeur Sanders and veteran quarterback Deshaun Watson is seemingly generating debate, and at least one ESPN analyst believes one contender holds a significant edge. 

ESPN analyst and former NFL player Damien Woody made a bold claim on Wednesday's edition of ESPN's "First Take." The former New England Patriots offensive lineman was asked how confident he was that Sanders would be the starter for the Browns in 2026. 

"I guess over 50%, I mean right now you are talking about him [Sanders] or Deshaun Watson," Woody said. "I mean, Deshaun Watson hasn't been relevant since 2020, and the only thing that is keeping Watson on that team is his contract, and so when you talk about those two, I would have to lean towards Shedeur Sanders."

Why Shedeur Sanders should get the nod

Sanders, a fifth-round pick in 2025, started seven games for the Browns and went 3-4 as a starter. The 24-year-old recorded 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions while having completed 56.6% of his passes. However, Sanders exhibited flashes of being a solid starter when he tossed for 364 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-29 loss to the Tennessee Titans. 

Sanders started his rookie season as the fourth-string quarterback but eventually became the first Browns rookie quarterback to win his debut since 1995. Sanders is touted for his calm presence under pressure, but he struggled immensely with his decision-making skills and holding the ball too long. 

The Browns hired their 11th head coach since 1999 in former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken. Monken is responsible for helping Lamar Jackson secure his second NFL MVP Award in 2023 and for leading the Ravens offense to a league-best in 2024. 

Sanders may have earned a full season as a starter in Cleveland under a new coaching regime, while also exhibiting strong potential throughout his seven starts. 

Why moving off Deshaun Watson isn't so simple

Watson, 30, has yet to resemble the caliber of the player he was during his early seasons. Woody alluded to Watson's 2020 campaign, which was arguably his best statistical season. 

In 2020, Watson recorded 4,823 yards (league-best), 33 touchdowns and had a 112.4 passer rating for the Houston Texans. Due to off-field issues, Watson missed the entire 2021 season and then signed a fully guaranteed five-year, $230M contract with the Browns in 2022. 

As a starter, Watson is 9-10 with the Browns and has struggled immensely with suspensions and injuries. Watson is coming off a torn Achilles injury and will enter 2026 with a $46M salary and a $80.7M cap hit. 

Watson isn't as elusive and explosive as he was as a member of the Texans. However, the Browns are paying Watson a substantial amount of money, and it's worth seeing if he can somewhat resemble his old self.

Whether the Browns choose Sanders or Watson to start in 2026, the organization needs to improve its flawed offensive line, which allowed the seventh most sacks in 2025 and is currently in the middle of one of the worst situations in the league.