Deshaun Watson makes first move in Shedeur Sanders battle with $1.5m NIL weapon eyed at No.6 in draft

Deshaun Watson appears to have drawn first blood in the race to become the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback.

In the quarterback carousel that continues to keep on spinning, some are giving the veteran signal caller a slight edge over Shedeur Sanders at this point in the off-season.

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With Todd Monken now at the helm as head coach, the starting role is not a guarantee for either QB, with Dillon Gabriel still reportedly in the mix, though deemed lower down the pecking order.

Others have given Sanders the edge and written off Watson while respected Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot, suggests that former Houston Texans QB Watson remains the frontrunner.

It is drama that is likely to run through the offseason.

“I do think the Browns really think that Deshaun Watson has something left in the tank if he’s healthy,” Cabot wrote on Sunday.

“That’s a big “if” coming off two surgeries to repair his ruptured and re-torn Achilles, and the surgery to repair the fractured shoulder from the season before.

“Is his arm the same? His athleticism? He certainly looked good throwing the ball in his three-week window last December, and during offseason workouts over the past few months. But he has to prove he can hold up under contact and in the heat of the moment.

“The Browns believe all of their quarterbacks will look better this season with a bolstered supporting cast and with Todd Monken designing the offense and calling the plays. We’ll soon know if they’re right.”

The thought of the Browns having faith in the 30-year-old being able to produce at a high level, even if it isn’t necessarily the levels expected from his hefty $230 million price tag, seems strange.

Watson hasn’t played a single down in the NFL since Week 7 of the 2024 season when he tore his Achilles in a 21-14 defeat to AFC North division rivals Cincinnati Bengals.

But, if the three-time Pro Bowler earns the role and performs well in what is the final year of his mega money deal, then Cabot can also see the possibility that the Browns decide to extend him to a longer-term deal after the 2026 season.

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“If Watson returns to his Pro Bowl form and plays like he did in Houston six years ago, the Browns would consider extending him after this season,” Cabot added.

“Browns GM Andrew Berry said as much at the NFL owners meetings last week. When they first acquired Watson, they hoped it would be a 10-year proposition. An extension might be a longshot, but they’re not ruling it out.

The three Browns receivers Watson is currently throwing to combined for 1,047 total receiving yards and two touchdowns in the 2025 season.

Browns heading towards drafting a WR

With their receiving corps from last season struggling to produce, it comes as no surprise that the Browns could be considering drafting a wide receiver in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.

With two first round picks, No.6 and No. 24 overall, the general consensus is that they will likely attempt to trade down from one of those picks in favor of adding a second-day pick in either 2026 or 2027.

However, should they not be able to find a trade suitor, they could look to select wide receiver Carnell Tate, per The Athletic’s Zac Jackson.

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In three seasons at Ohio State, the 21-year-old – who was projected to have earned upwards of $1.5 million in Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals last season – notched 1,872 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns from just 121 receptions.

He was part of the Buckeyes receiving corps in 2024 that won the College Football Playoff National Championship, and entering the draft has been named as the “best contested-catch maker” in the class.

“The latest product of Wide Receiver U, Tate is the best contested-catch maker in this class,” NFL.com’s Nick Shook wrote.

“That’s a skill that will translate immediately at the next level, and it’s one the Browns desperately need as they continue to wade through the swamp of quarterback uncertainty. Leave the concern about his 40 time at home; Tate can and will make a difference quickly.“

However, with the Browns entering 2026 with an entirely new offensive line, they may opt to bring in further reinforcement at that position, such as Georgia Bulldogs OT Monroe Freeling, to provide additional protection to their QB1, whomever that will be.

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