Browns reportedly name Deshaun Watson starting QB over Shedeur Sanders; here's why that's a mistake

When Watson has played for the Browns, the product has been horrendous. The QB has posted a 9-10 regular-season record, completing 341-of-557 passes (61.4 percent, below average) for 3,365 yards, 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Preseason made it apparent Watson's play won't improve. In two games, he has completed 16-of-27 passes (59.3 percent) for 162 yards and tossed one interception.

His most recent performance against the Buffalo Bills was an utter disaster. In a 31-7 loss, Watson went 5-of-12 passing for 36 yards and an interception. Cleveland fans booed him throughout the disastrous outing.

In an even more disastrous postgame news conference, Watson chastised fans for their "disrespectful" conduct and said their boos had "nothing to do with performance." Yes, they did. They were all about his performance, which stunk.

NFL Network's Kyle Brandt said Watson's news conference should be "career-ending" on "Good Morning Football" before learning of the update. Alas, the Browns chose to ignore Brandt's advice, and he wasn't happy after the news broke.

Sanders, meanwhile, has been the better QB during preseason, completing 15-of-22 passes (68.2 percent, above average) for 153 yards, one TD and two interceptions. He didn't start the first preseason game against the Chicago Bears, running the second-team offense. When he started against Buffalo, he went 9-of-11 passing for 74 yards, one TD and one interception. 

Now, it's unclear whether Sanders can become the guy for the Browns. During his rookie season in 2025, he went 3-4 as a starter, completing 120-of-212 passes (56.6 percent) for 1,400 yards and tossing seven TD passes and 10 interceptions in eight games. Some of that could be the byproduct of playing for a team that's gone 8-26 over its last 34 games. 

More importantly, would Watson play much better? After watching him struggle over his last four seasons and in the preseason, the answer should be a resounding no. That makes the move to name him the starter even more nonsensical.