The Cleveland Browns' quarterback room is already heating up, and not just because of the Ohio sun. Fans are up in arms over the team's reported preference for Deshaun Watson over young gun Shedeur Sanders in the battle for the starting job. The controversy erupted after early reports from voluntary minicamp suggested Watson is the frontrunner, despite Sanders showing promise in his rookie campaign.
Shedeur Sanders, who started seven games last season, completed 56.6% of his passes for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Meanwhile, Watson has only played 19 games since 2022, throwing for 3,365 yards and 19 touchdowns. The contrast has fans questioning whether the Browns are giving Sanders a fair shot.
Before minicamp kicked off in April, JW Johnson of Haslam Sports Group insisted it would be an open competition. “Nobody is getting handed the keys to the car today,” Johnson said. “They’re going to come in and compete. Deshaun is coming off a major injury… Shedeur and Dillon had ups and downs during their rookie years. Now with a new head coach, let’s see how they come in, compete and understand the offense. I think it’s open competition and we are excited about it.”
But according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the early buzz is that Watson is the favorite to start Week 1. Both quarterbacks took first-team reps, but Watson spent more time under center, fueling the perception that the deck is stacked against Sanders.
Fans have taken to social media to express their frustration. “Just a nasty league,” one fan posted. “This league is disgraceful man,” another added. A third wrote, “Shedeur should be QB1 even if Watson is better now. Shedeur as QB1 would be good for football.” Another user speculated, “This can’t be a serious!! It’s either to build Watson trade value or keep the grips on Shedeur cus the Browns use this strategy to keep him humble but he will be the starter.”
The financial side can't be ignored either. Watson's $46 million base salary for 2026 looms large, potentially influencing the coaching staff's decision. But for Sanders, there's still plenty of time to impress new offensive coordinator Todd Monken. The Browns' recent draft moves have hinted at building around Sanders, as noted in Browns' Draft Picks Hint at All-In Plan for Shedeur Sanders in 2026, but the early competition suggests a different story.
As the Browns navigate this delicate situation, fans will be watching closely. The question remains: will Sanders get a genuine chance to win the job, or is this just a formality before Watson takes the reins? Browns QB Battle: Watson Leads, Sanders Needs to 'Dazzle' to Catch Up might be the reality, but for now, the outrage is real.
