Browns QB Shedeur Sanders to get first crack at starting gig?

The Cleveland Browns' offseason program kicked off this week in Berea, and the most-watched quarterback battle in the league kicked off along with it.

The Browns' quarterback question is equal parts fascinating and discouraging. The "battle" appears that it will be more like a pillow fight because whoever comes out as the starter isn't exactly going to get the entire fanbase excited.

Deshaun Watson carries a semi-truck load full of baggage to go along with bad quarterback play, Shedeur Sanders has turnover problems and an inconsistency from an accuracy standpoint that is worrisome, and Dillon Gabriel, as option number three, is discouraging because he simply does not have the tools to be an NFL quarterback.

Head coach Todd Monken definitely has his work cut out for him in his first-ever season as an NFL head coach. But, regardless of their potential or outlook, they have to put someone out there to try and win on the field.

The Browns' quarterback battle was a headline topic on Thursday's "Get Up" episode on ESPN. Former NFL Player turned analyst Jason McCourty weighed in on the situation and gave his two cents on it.

What to watch for in Browns' QB battle

While acknowledging that Watson is going to be a part of the competition for sure, McCourty suggested that Cleveland start the offseason with Sanders as quarterback one while still making him earn the starting job. Sanders, unfortunately, didn't do enough last year in his seven starts to convince anyone in Cleveland that he is the long-term answer. Naming him the offseason starter just gives him a clear starting point; it doesn't do any more than that.

This rationale by McCourty makes a lot of sense, and it does seem to be the logical move for this scenario. Cleveland fans want something to root for. Everyone knows what Deshaun Watson is at this point, and while Gabriel, like Sanders, is not a finished product, he showed that his skill set does not fit on an NFL field.

With Sanders, there is the unknown that if he cleans up the turnovers and the mechanics, he could potentially become a winning player on the field. That is not crowning him the long-term answer; it is, however, saying that at his ceiling, he could be competent enough to win football games.

We just have to find that ceiling, and you have to do it quickly before the 2027 quarterback-heavy NFL Draft.

This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns QB Shedeur Sanders to get first crack at starting gig?