Shedeur Sanders could lose Browns QB battle for ridiculous off-field reason

The Cleveland Browns are in the middle of a quarterback competition between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson. Currently, there is no clear frontrunner.

With both QBs getting a chance to start a preseason game, it stands to reason that the Browns will decide their starting QB for Week 1 based on their on-field abilities.

But ESPN's Ben Solak pitches the idea that the Browns might decide on their QB1 due to off-the-field reasons. Specifically, he believes the Browns could choose Watson over Sanders for one off-field reason: money.

Browns could pick Deshaun Watson as QB1 for an off-field reason

"If the Browns can get palatable play from Watson, they're financially incentivized to keep him for another season and spread the cap hit out even further," Solak writes. "So this competition might end up being decided not with on-field performance but rather on financial ramifications."

The Browns clearly messed up big-time with their blockbuster trade and extension for Watson a few years ago. They're still being hampered by that awful decision, potentially even with this year's QB battle.

Solak believes their QB1 decision could come down to Watson's contract, which has a mammoth $86 million dead cap hit if he's cut before June 1.

The Browns really don't have much of a choice but to keep Watson for the remainder of the season. That doesn't mean they have to start him, though.

MORE: Why Shedeur Sanders vs. Deshaun Watson QB competition is taking so long for Browns

And yet, Solak believes his massive contract could be the deciding factor in who is named the Browns' Week 1 starting QB.

Watson over Sanders, based on their on-field performance this August, would be a bit disappointing for Sanders, but an understandable result.

Choosing Watson just because he has a massive contract that the Browns cannot get off their books yet would be a ridiculous way to pick their starting QB.

Hopefully, Monken can choose his QB1 based on their on-field performance, and not any off-field reason. If Solak is right and the Browns do make their decision based on Watson's contract, it would be a horrendous reason for the Browns to make this choice.

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