Browns could make surprising QB decision amid resolution of QB1 battle

First-year Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken named veteran Deshaun Watson the team's Week 1 starting quarterback on Monday, relegating Shedeur Sanders to backup duties. Despite the decision, there are reasons to believe that both could take snaps during the upcoming regular season. 

The Browns also have 2025 third-round draft pick Dillon Gabriel and 2026 sixth-round draft pick Taylen Green in their quarterback room. Browns reporter Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN predicted that Cleveland will carry all four signal-callers on the club's active roster into Week 1.

Will Browns make shocking QB decision after Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders competition wraps up?

"Keeping four quarterbacks on an active roster is unheard of in the NFL," Oyefusi wrote. "However, Cleveland is effectively using Green's rookie season as a redshirt year. And between Watson's struggles, injury history and the reception from the home crowd in the second preseason game -- he was met with loud boos -- the Browns might opt to keep Gabriel on the 53-man roster as another backup option." 

Watson served an 11-game suspension in 2022 related to allegations of sexual misconduct during massage sessions. Since that time, physical setbacks have limited him to just 19 regular-season starts, and he hasn't appeared in a meaningful game since he suffered the first of two Achilles injuries in October 2024. 

As for Sanders, he produced rather lackluster stats over seven regular-season starts as a rookie. While Gabriel has clearly been Cleveland's third-choice option at the position this summer, he could be needed later this year depending on Watson's and Sanders' performances and/or health.

Why Browns likely won't move on from Deshaun Watson this summer

Watson and the Browns will almost certainly part ways in 2027, which has led some to wonder why he and Cleveland don't agree to a divorce as soon as possible. As Greg Auman of Fox Sports pointed out, it would cost the Browns $41M in dead money this year and $86M in 2027 to cut Watson before the 2026 season gets underway. Thus, he probably isn't going anywhere anytime soon. 

Meanwhile, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer shared that Monken is "excited" to see Green play in the Browns' preseason finale against the New England Patriots this coming Thursday. 

"It will mark Green’s first preseason action after sitting out the first two games," Cabot wrote. "But he made the most of his few snaps during the joint practice against the Bills on Aug. 20, hitting tight end Jermaine Terry with a deep pass to the right, and finding running back Davon Booth on a sideline route to the left."

It sounds like Green and Gabriel could both lock spots on the Browns' Week 1 roster down if they play well against New England's backups. If such a scenario plays out, it's possible that either or both could make at least one regular-season start for the Browns before Week 18 comes to an end.