​There are six ongoing starting quarterback battles unfolding across the NFL this fall. The Cleveland Browns may boast the most unlikely scenario, with a former MVP candidate, Deshaun Watson, competing against a second-year pro who was chosen 144th overall last April, Shedeur Sanders. Strikingly, the Day 3 draft pick could end up winning this job, illustrating that draft position often isn’t a predictor of success—even when a quarterback once went 12th overall in the first round like Watson did in 2017.
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This is a new season, under a first-year head coach, signaling a fresh start for everyone involved. The Browns, who finished 31st in scoring last season, have overhauled their offense, including the trenches. They’ve also added some new weapons, selecting wideout KC Concepcion in the first round and Denzel Boston in the second. Together, they’ll complement a receiving corps currently led by former Pro Bowl receiver Jerry Jeudy, along with Isaiah Bond and last year’s breakout tight end, Harold Fannin Jr.
In other words, on paper, it looks like the Browns’ quarterbacks will have a better chance to succeed in 2026 than they did in 2025, when Cleveland posted five wins and finished last in the AFC North. While Watson recovers from a twice-torn Achilles tendon, it appears that Sanders is the one making the most of his opportunity so far.
Bleacher Report NFL insider James Palmer notes that Sanders has “closed the gap” between him and Watson this summer. There have been some whispers that the Browns could move on from Sanders, but the current understanding is far from that. He’s making up ground, improving in pocket presence and progression reads—the hallmarks of an effective NFL quarterback. Palmer stated that Watson likely led in the spring, but Sanders has closed the distance and is showing meaningful, incremental improvement. He added that the Browns do not intend to trade Sanders.
So far, there haven’t been credible rumors from trusted insiders suggesting Cleveland is entertaining trade calls for Sanders. Even with four quarterbacks on the roster—Watson, Sanders, 2025 third-round pick Dillon Gabriel, and sixth-round rookie Taylen Green—Cleveland appears unwilling to part with the 24-year-old right now, especially given that the organization is still in the process of identifying a franchise quarterback.
Sanders is entering the second year of a four-year contract. Trading him now would be ill-advised, particularly when the Browns still need to pinpoint their long-term quarterback plan. Considering how much he’s progressed since joining the team last April, there’s little incentive to pull the plug before he has a real chance to realize his potential. Yet it’s hard for other teams to ignore the obvious improvements he has shown, which raises questions about whether he could become a legitimate long-term option somewhere else if given the chance.