If a trade were to happen without Sanders asking to leave, the move would raise questions about the team’s depth at the quarterback position. Watson, who signed a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract ahead of the 2022 season, has yet to secure a prolonged, healthy run on the field for Cleveland. Over four seasons with the Browns, Watson has started 19 games, posting a 9-10 record with 3,365 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. His career in Cleveland has been marked by a combination of high expectations and notable injury disruptions, complicating the team’s long-term plans at the most important position.
Watson’s 2024 campaign was severely hampered by injury, and his 2023 season was limited due to a shoulder problem that required surgery. In 2025, another Achilles injury sidelined him for the season, leaving the Browns to evaluate what the veteran quarterback can contribute when healthy. With Watson entering the final year of his contract and facing a real quarterback competition against Sanders, the Browns are weighing their options for 2026 and beyond.
During the off-season practices, Watson showed efficiency and command, completing 90 of 133 passes with 13 touchdowns and three interceptions. Sanders, in his own reps, completed 79 of 113 attempts with five touchdowns and three interceptions. While Watson’s experience is a clear asset, Sanders’ potential presents a compelling case for the Browns as they prepare for a pivotal season.
Despite the positive signs from Watson, observers worry about how the quarterback room would look if Watson’s health issues persist or if he cannot sustain a full season at peak performance. The discussion includes the possibility that Cleveland could rely on a combination of Dillon Gabriel, a second-year quarterback who started six games last season and posted a 1-5 record with 937 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and two interceptions, and rookie Taylen Green if the team needed to rotate or spell a veteran signal-caller. Such a scenario would be less than ideal for a franchise aiming to maximize its window with a talented core.
Andrew Berry has a reputation for making bold offseason moves, but moving Sanders before camp would be a dramatic step. Brown coaching staff leadership has signaled a desire to see the two quarterbacks compete openly, ensuring both are prepared to contribute if needed. Head coach Todd Monken publicly supported the two-quarterback arrangement during the offseason program, suggesting that both players are capable of starting at a high level, but acknowledging that the decision on the Week 1 starter remains open.
Monken’s comments reflect a balanced view: he sees two capable quarterbacks and emphasizes the importance of continuing to develop each option through training camp and the preseason. The staff appears committed to assessing performance, leadership, decision-making, and execution under game-like conditions before finalizing a plan for the regular season. The competition remains one of the central narratives for Browns fans as they approach late July, when the team reports for training camp.
If Sanders were to remain with the Browns, his development would be closely watched as a potential future leader of the offense. Cleveland’s approach to the quarterback position will likely rely on what is learned during camp and the preseason, with expectations that both players will receive opportunities to prove their readiness to assume a larger role in 2026 and beyond. For the organization, the immediate objective is clear: maximize the quarterback room’s depth and performance while preserving the flexibility to adjust plans based on health, readiness, and on-field results.
In the broader context, the Browns’ decision-making process will consider the long-term stability of the position, the players’ relative trajectories, and the impact on the team’s competitive window. With training camp on the horizon, all eyes will be on the quarterbacks as they compete to command the offense and establish themselves as the leader Cleveland can build around for the future.
As the team prepares for a late-July start to training camp, Sanders’ performance in camp and the preseason will be instrumental in shaping the team’s approach at quarterback. The coaching staff’s evaluation will determine whether Sanders continues to be viewed as a potential franchise quarterback or whether the organization leans more heavily on Watson, provided he remains healthy and productive. The quarterback situation stands as a defining storyline for the Browns, set against the backdrop of a franchise seeking consistency, resilience, and long-term stability at the most critical position.
