Todd Monken needs to keep job in mind when naming Browns' starting QB

Even in their first training camp in life without Myles Garrett, there's one question looming over the Cleveland Browns more than any other. 

Who will be Cleveland's starting quarterback when they kick off the regular season on Sept. 13 in Jacksonville? 

And while fans and media have been busy debating which way first-year head coach Todd Monken should go in a battle between veteran Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, the choice should be clear, at least for the head coach. 

Some argue the Browns need to start Shedeur Sanders no matter what 

The argument for Sanders centers around Watson, a three-time Pro Bowler from his early-career days with the Houston Texans, being far removed from the quarterback who once led the NFL in passing yards (2020). Since that time, Watson has made more headlines for accusations about his off-the-field behavior than his play. 

After being forced to miss the 2021 season, Watson has struggled mightily since signing a massive contract with the Browns. 

Deshaun Watson has endured an up-and-down tenure with the Browns 

In 19 games with the Browns, Watson is 9-10 with 3,365 yards through the air and 19 touchdowns. But his mistakes have canceled out any flashes of his past individual prowess. He's thrown 12 interceptions and lost the ball via 12 fumbles. 

However, Sanders has yet to emerge as the better option. He was 3-4 in seven starts as a rookie in 2025. He threw for exactly 1,400 yards, but his touchdown-to-interception ratio was the problem. Sanders tossed 10 picks to only seven touchdowns. 

Reports suggest Watson has outperformed Sanders in training camp 

Some may argue that Sanders' play last season or the reports indicating Watson has outperformed him throughout most of training camp shouldn't matter. That thinking stems from using 2026 as a tool to evaluate what could develop in Sanders, a much younger and more unproven product.