The Cleveland Browns have finally made one of the biggest decisions of their 2026 offseason: Deshaun Watson will be the team’s starting quarterback in Week 1, beating out Shedeur Sanders after a closely watched training camp and preseason competition.
The decision ends weeks of uncertainty for Cleveland, but it does not necessarily end the questions surrounding the position. Watson enters the season with plenty to prove, while Sanders now has to wait for his next opportunity. For first-year head coach Todd Monken, the choice represents a bet that Watson gives Cleveland the best chance to win immediately.
The Browns entered training camp with Watson and Sanders sharing first-team opportunities rather than handing the job to either quarterback. Monken repeatedly emphasized that the decision would be based on the quarterbacks’ overall body of work in training camp and the preseason.
Watson had a mixed preseason, completing 16 of 27 passes for 162 yards and one interception through two appearances. Sanders, meanwhile, completed 68.2% of his passes for 153 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.
The numbers did not produce an obvious winner, which made Monken’s final decision more complicated. Sanders appeared to gain momentum after his performance against the Buffalo Bills. The Browns ultimately decided Watson’s experience and overall body of work gave him the edge.
Sanders certainly gave Cleveland something to think about. He started the Browns’ second preseason game against the Bills and completed 9 of 11 passes for 74 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Monken praised Sanders afterward, highlighting his confidence and improvement in getting rid of the football.
That performance helped keep the quarterback competition alive, particularly after Watson struggled while playing with Cleveland’s reserves. He completed 5 of 12 passes for 36 yards and an interception against Buffalo.
Still, Monken said the decision would not be based on one preseason game. The Browns wanted to evaluate everything the two quarterbacks had done throughout camp, practices, and preseason action before making the final call.
Being named the starter does not mean Watson has erased every concern surrounding his game. His time in Cleveland has been heavily disrupted by injuries and suspension. He missed the 2025 season after suffering two Achilles injuries, and his availability has been a major issue since joining the Browns.
That makes 2026 an important season for Watson. Cleveland is not simply asking him to win the quarterback competition; the organization needs to see whether he can stay healthy and consistently perform at a level that justifies the team’s continued commitment to him.
Watson’s contract also makes the decision significant. The Browns acquired him in 2022 and gave him a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract, making him one of the most expensive quarterback commitments in NFL history.
Watson’s return to Cleveland has not exactly been embraced by everyone. During the Browns’ preseason loss to Buffalo, he was booed by the home crowd. He later spoke emotionally about the reaction, saying he was disappointed and frustrated by the treatment he received from fans.
That created another storyline around the quarterback competition. Monken insisted Watson’s comments would not determine the starting decision. The coach said the choice would be based on football and which quarterback gives Cleveland the best chance to win.
That distinction is important. Cleveland did not choose Watson because of his contract, his comments, or his history alone. At least according to Monken, the decision came down to the complete evaluation of the two quarterbacks.
Sanders losing the starting job is not necessarily the end of his opportunity in Cleveland. The second-year quarterback showed enough during training camp and preseason action to remain an intriguing option if Watson struggles or gets injured. His 9-of-11 performance against Buffalo demonstrated that he can operate the offense efficiently when given a clean opportunity.
That could make Sanders one of the most important backups in the NFL heading into the season. The Browns now have a clear starter, but they also have a young quarterback who has already experienced NFL action and could be asked to step in at any point.
For Sanders, the best response is simple: keep developing and be ready.
There is a reasonable argument for both quarterbacks, but Cleveland’s decision ultimately favors experience. Watson has played at a Pro Bowl level in the past and enters the season with significantly more NFL experience than Sanders. The Browns are hoping that a healthy offseason and a full training camp in Monken’s offense can help him rediscover some of that form.
Sanders offers a different kind of appeal. He is younger, has more time to develop, and could potentially become part of Cleveland’s longer-term plans. Monken is starting with the quarterback he believes gives the team the best chance to win now.
The Browns will open their regular season against the Jacksonville Jaguars on September 13, and Watson will enter that game as QB1.
That gives the coaching staff several weeks to build the offense around him and prepare Watson for his first regular-season start of the new campaign. It also gives Sanders a clear role. Instead of spending the next few weeks wondering whether he will start, he can focus on developing as the No. 2 quarterback and preparing for whatever opportunity comes next.
For Cleveland, the uncertainty is finally over.
The biggest question is no longer whether Watson or Sanders should start. It is whether Watson can prove that Cleveland made the right choice.
The Browns have invested heavily in Watson. This decision gives him another opportunity to show that he can be the quarterback the organization believed it was acquiring in 2022. His health, consistency, and ability to handle pressure will be watched closely from the opening snap.
At the same time, Sanders will remain one of the most interesting players on the Browns’ roster because the gap between the two quarterbacks did not appear enormous during preseason action. That means Cleveland may have made its decision for Week 1 without necessarily making a decision for the entire season.
The Browns have chosen Deshaun Watson to start Week 1, ending the quarterback competition with Shedeur Sanders. It is a decision that puts immediate pressure on Watson. Cleveland is betting that his experience, talent, and overall body of work give the team the best chance to win, even after years of injuries and inconsistent availability.
Sanders, meanwhile, will have to wait for his next chance.
The Browns finally have their starting quarterback. Now Watson has to prove that they made the right call.
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