Browns fire starting gun in QB race with Shedeur Sanders told how to beat Deshaun Watson to Week 1 start

Quarterback competitions are all too familiar for the Cleveland Browns.

Entering the 2025 season, the Browns had four QB’s battling for the starting job: Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, plus Deshaun Watson injured.

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They face a similar situation ahead of the 2026 regular season, with Sanders, Gabriel and Watson all battling to start under center for Cleveland.

Watson returns to the mix after missing the entirety of last season recovering from an Achilles tendon rupture he suffered in the middle of 2024.

The current favorite is Sanders, who started the final seven games of the season for the Browns, winning three of them.

New head coach Todd Monken, who was poached from the Baltimore Ravens, has said all three QBs will get a fair shot at the starting role.

Monken made a statement during the AFC coaches breakfast that gave a subtle hint as to the direction he is heading.

“Most coaches would have an affinity for quarterbacks that are mobile, but they also have an affinity for quarterbacks that can complete passes and are really good on third down and in the two minute,” Monken said on April, 2.

“So it certainly benefits you to have a mobile quarterback, but ultimately that’s just a piece of it.”

The admission is likely a major boost for Sanders, as Watson has only just been cleared to play following his Achilles tendon rupture.

The rookie threw for exactly 1,400 yards with seven touchdowns at the end of 2025, and controversially was selected to the pro bowl after player withdrawals.

It’s clear to see that the Browns see something in Sanders, who suffered a dramatic draft slide.

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But despite Monken’s hint, he was quick to reassure members of the media that the race is still wide open.

“No, not really. There’s a lot to like about all three,” He said, via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com

“There’s enough there to really like Deshaun [Watson] and the way he plays. There’s enough there to really like the way Shedeur [Sanders] played at the back end of the year. 

“And there’s enough early in the year from Dillon [Gabriel] that is playing the position at a very high level.”

The former Baltimore Ravens coach then noted that the Week 1 starter is a bigger deal externally than it is internally, and it could change throughout the season.

“That’s not set in stone. That’s something we can flip, just like the practice plays. We can flip that any given day how we see fit that gives us the best chance to develop our players.

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“Now, how they go about it, how they study, how they take care of their body, how they manage our team, how they lead, those are set in stone. Those are non-negotiables.”

It’s clear to see that the Browns are not going to come out and announce their starter just yet.

It’s a big decision on the shoulders of Monken, who is the latest coach attempting to turn the Browns into a consistent winner.

Monken will want to see what he is working with, ensuring they have an opportunity to battle it out during camp.

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