NFL insider shares massive Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders update; links Browns with college sensation

All that was known for sure about the Cleveland Browns' quarterback situation as of Wednesday morning is that Deshaun Watson will start over second-year pro Shedeur Sanders for Cleveland's Week 2 game at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 20.

Interestingly, Browns safety Ronnie Hickman said when asked on Monday about Watson remaining the team's starter that such decisions are "above my pay grade." For a Casino.org piece published on Wednesday, NFL insider Jason La Canfora shared more information regarding how Browns players allegedly feel about the club's ongoing quarterback situation. 

Browns locker room "already over" Deshaun Watson playing instead of Shedeur Sanders? 

"Numerous league sources have indicated to me that the locker room is already over this stunt, players on that roster are over the constant drama, and there is no leadership coming from Watson at all at this point," La Canfora wrote about the Browns.

According to La Canfora, "one agent who is close to a client on the Browns" said that "the guys in that locker room aren’t stupid" and that "they can see through what’s going on there." 

Watson completed 11-of-17 passes for 100 yards with an interception through the first three quarters of Cleveland's 34-10 Week 1 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars this past Sunday. While he managed to throw a 46-yard touchdown pass in garbage time of the contest, that play did little to appease Browns fans who never wanted him to serve as the club's 2026 Week 1 QB1. 

"The same execs around the league who told us Watson was always going to end up being the Week 1 starter for the Browns believe that by the time the Browns play their home opener in Week 3, Watson will be benched," La Canfora explained. 

Browns insider Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland/The Land on Demand previously said he thought Sanders could start Cleveland's Week 3 game against the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 27 if the Browns fall to 0-2 this coming weekend. 

"He doesn’t want to be there," an unnamed general manager said about Watson while speaking with La Canfora. "He never wanted to be there. He’ll keep playing like s— to see how fast they’ll pull him. He’s calling their bluff."

Watson accepted a trade from the Houston Texans to the Browns in March 2022 because Cleveland was willing to give him a fully guaranteed five-year, $230M contract. More recently, Watson ripped what he referred to as "disrespectful" conduct from fans who booed him during a preseason game in August. He later tried to walk those comments back. 

Browns once again linked with this college prospect

Meanwhile, an August update suggested that Browns co-owner Jimmy Haslam would push for general manager Andrew Berry to grab Texas Longhorns star Arch Manning if Cleveland ends up holding the top pick in next year's draft. Haslam and Hall of Famer Peyton Manning are alumni of the University of Tennessee, and the Haslam family reportedly "has a good relationship with the Manning family that dates to Peyton’s time at" Tennessee.

"Haslam wants Arch Manning. That’s what this is really all about," one longtime NFL personnel executive "who knows the Browns well" told La Canfora. "...I know Jimmy, and I know how Jimmy thinks. He’s a huge booster for Tennessee. He has always [been fond of] Peyton. He wants Arch Manning playing in that new stadium."

As of Wednesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Browns as 8.5-point road underdogs against the Buccaneers.