​The Cleveland Browns remain a major topic of conversation this offseason as the NFL world watches the ongoing quarterback competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders. Yet a growing faction argues that the debate is unnecessary and that Cleveland should simply hand the reins to Sanders. A rival NFL scout told Athlon Sports this week that the Browns must finally show a return on the $230 million they invested in Watson, contending that Watson is clearly ahead of Sanders and that “it doesn’t take a genius to see that.”
Watson dazzled as a star quarterback during his four seasons with the Houston Texans, posting a 67.8 percent completion rate for 14,539 yards, 104 touchdowns, and 36 interceptions. His Cleveland tenure, however, has fallen far short of expectations. After the Browns surrendered three first-round picks along with three additional draft selections to acquire Watson in 2022, he has appeared in only 19 games due to suspensions and injuries, and when on the field he has struggled. Some observers believe Cleveland might be better off handing the starting job to Sanders, who flashed potential during his rookie year.
Adam Schein of the New York Post is among those who favor promoting Sanders, who started seven games for Cleveland in 2025, completing 56.6 percent of his passes for 1,400 yards, with 7 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. “And then you have the Browns, you poor, poor people of Cleveland,” Schein quipped. “I just wish Shedeur Sanders would get the keys to the car. I actually thought Shedeur’s rookie season was solid. The problem is, you’ve got the Monk Man and Jimmy Haslam, they’re still messing around with Deshaun Watson. Why is this even a thing?”
Cleveland also faced a significant defensive move this offseason, trading Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for Jared Verse and a package consisting of a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 third-round pick. Garrett had just finished a remarkable 2025 season, setting a new NFL single-season sack record with 23, and securing the top spot in the PFN EDGE Impact rankings. Across nine NFL seasons, Garrett has accumulated 125.5 sacks, the most among active players. The loss of a five-time First-Team All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler further fueled pessimism about the Browns’ outlook for 2026, with Schein arguing that Cleveland’s defense will suffer as a result. “They don’t have Myles Garrett,” Schein said. “Whenever you trade the best defensive player in the NFL, you get worse. I think the Browns are going to be dead last in the division. The Cleveland Browns remain the Cleveland Browns. They are a laughing stock. They are a joke.”
Looking ahead to 2026, Cleveland faces an additional hurdle in the form of a challenging early schedule, with six of their first nine games lined up against strong opponents, underscoring the uphill climb the team faces as it plots its course under a revamped roster and a high-stakes quarterback decision. The ongoing debate between Watson and Sanders will undoubtedly shape the Browns’ narrative as the season approaches, but the broader moves—most notably the Garrett trade and the shift on defense—have already altered the franchise’s trajectory and raised questions about whether the organization can recapture the consistency and elite play that defined its past peak.