Shedeur Sanders’ starting chances with Browns dealt tough blow

The Browns’ trade for Watson, and the subsequent monster contract extension the team gave him, has been a total disaster, something even Browns owner Jimmy Haslam has admitted.

“We took a big swing and miss with Deshaun. We thought we had the quarterback, we didn’t and we gave up a lot of draft picks to get him. So we’ve got to dig ourselves out of that hole. [The trade] was an entire organization decision and it ends with Dee and I, so hold us accountable,” Haslam said

Along with all the off-the-field issues Watson has had and consecutive season-ending injuries, he has also looked like a shell of the player who once appeared to be on a star trajectory when he was with the Houston Texans.

Barring a total turnaround, the book is already written on Watson and we pretty much know what to expect, which is bad quarterback play.

Sanders remains a wild card and actually offers promise.

He wasn’t great during his rookie year in 2025, but he did show some flashes of being an NFL starter despite not having a full offseason of first-team reps.

There is at least a chance that Sanders turns into the quarterback of the future and that should have been enough for him to get a look.

On the flip side, Monken is in his first year as the head coach and needs to make a strong first impression.

If he thinks Watson gives him the best chance to win, that is going to heavily factor into his decision under center.

A matter of when, not if

All that said, it’s not like Shedeur Sanders has no chance to get a look as the starter at all in 2026.

If Watson struggles, which feels inevitable at this point, the Browns will likely put the ball in Sanders’ hands to see what he can do with the same offense.

Cleveland also has Dillon Gabriel, who failed miserably as the starter last season, and the team drafted Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green in the sixth round, so he may also get a look.

If nothing works out for the Browns under center in 2026, the team will turn its focus to the 2027 NFL Draft, which is expected to be loaded with quarterback talent.