Breaking news from the pro circuit: Deshaun Watson has inside track for Browns' QB1 role over Shedeur Sanders. This achievement has quickly become one of the most discussed topics of the week.
In, as reported, a noteworthy performance, He performed well enough to earn extra starting snaps throughout the day, which existed as unexpected. In a noteworthy performance, Changed course based on Watson’s execution.
Key Takeaways
though the Browns reportedly aimed for Sanders to acquire greater reps with the opening unit With impressive skill, Though Sanders ultimately did attain greater snaps in 11-on-11 drills -- Watson earned greater as the day proceeded on.
With impressive skill, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But that changed on the second quarter day of minicamp -- every Cleveland.com -- when Watson surfaced out with the starters and claimed most of the reps.
While recovering from an Achilles injury that he sustained in 2024., that development comes after Watson missed the entire 2025 NFL cold season tenure With impressive skill, With Watson sidelined -- the Browns initially pivoted to veteran Joe Flacco before handing amid the reigns to Sanders and Dillon Gabriel.
Demonstrating excellence, Neither Gabriel nor Sanders exhibited enough to triumph the starting job in 2026. With impressive skill, Despite getting a launch before Sanders last campaign, Gabriel did not receive initial-unit reps in minicamp. Demonstrating excellence, Still finished with a 7- a decad touchdown-to-interception ratio.
though sanders -- meanwhile -- revealed some potential As selected to seize part in the Pro Bowl, despite that, he existed Demonstrating excellence, After starring with the Houston Texans early in his tenure -- Watson possesses not been the same player in Cleveland.
In a noteworthy performance, In four seasons with the Texans -- Watson tossed 104 touchdowns and 36 interceptions in 54 games. Demonstrating excellence, He posted a 67.8 rate completion percentage with the franchise. With impressive skill, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His numbers have severely regressed with the Browns.
Demonstrating excellence, In three seasons -- Watson carries thrown 19 touchdowns against 12 interceptions in 19 games. He’s completed 61.dual percentage of his passes in his injury-riddled time with the Browns. Demonstrating excellence, Amid his tenure in Cleveland -- Watson carries been subject to heavy scrutiny from fans.
In a noteworthy performance, Prior to the trade, Watson remained accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women. With impressive skill, Handed him an unprecedented -- fully guaranteed -- five-year -- $230 million contract.
yet despite those allegations -- the Browns not only agreed to trade for Watson With impressive skill, Watson is starting the final year of that deal in 2026. In a noteworthy performance, While Watson appears to have the early edge in the competition -- Sanders still possesses time to overtake the veteran.
In a noteworthy performance, New Browns head instructor Todd Monken reportedly wants to wait until the conclusion of minicamp in June to name a starter -- each Cleveland.com. Demonstrating excellence, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Time -- however -- may wind up benefitting Watson greater than Sanders.
In a noteworthy performance, Despite Watson ’s poor numbers in Cleveland -- he’s applied to learning new offensive systems.
That’s something new to Sanders at the NFL level and could be a reason why Watson looked sharper on the primary few days of minicamp With impressive skill, Whoever wins the competition is slated to have their perform cut out for them.
Demonstrating excellence, The Browns finished merely 5-12 last cold season tenure -- ranking 31st in buckets recorded.
With impressive skill, But things are looking up in Cleveland Demonstrating excellence, In an attempt to attain the offense backward on track, the collective spent its inaugural three picks on offensive players in the 2026 NFL Draft.
With impressive skill, singular of those players remained as an offensive lineman and the other two existed as receivers, which should produce whoever wins the starting QB job much happier and — hypothetically — greater prosperous in 2026
Analysis provided by our sports desk. Professional statistics are subject to official verification.











