Deshaun Watson early leader for Cleveland Browns starting quarterback

Cleveland’s quarterback situation is still unfolding, but there’s a noticeable early leader starting to emerge.

Former Clemson star quarterback Deshaun Watson has come out of minicamp with a slight edge to open the 2026 season as QB1 for the Cleveland Browns. After missing all of 2025 while recovering from a torn Achilles and a second setback during rehab, Watson is finally back on the field and getting a full offseason to reset.

The competition isn’t going away, though. Shedeur Sanders is right there behind him and still very much in the mix. Both quarterbacks rotated with the first team during offseason practices, but reporting from Mary Kay Cabot indicated Watson ultimately saw more reps with the starters. That’s usually a strong signal, even this early, that he’s the one the staff is leaning toward heading into training camp.

Cleveland also has Dillon Gabriel and rookie Taylen Green on the roster, but this feels like a two-player race right now. Sanders still has a real chance to change the narrative, but he’ll likely need a standout camp to overtake Watson before any final decision is made.

For Watson, this is a pretty important stretch. He hasn’t played in a game since October 2024, and his time in Cleveland overall has been inconsistent due to injuries and missed time. Still, the Browns are giving him every opportunity to reclaim the job, especially with a new coaching staff looking to evaluate everything from scratch.

There’s also the contract factor. Watson is entering the final year of his deal, which adds another layer to this competition. A strong season could reshape how he’s viewed going forward, while anything less leaves more questions.

Nothing is locked in yet, but based on how minicamp played out, Watson has put himself in front. Now it’s about whether he can hold that spot once things really ramp up.

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