Why Browns are making a massive mistake with Deshaun Watson as QB1 over Shedeur Sanders

The Cleveland Browns had one of the more interesting quarterback competitions of the offseason. Deshaun Watson was initially viewed as the clear frontrunner, but Shedeur Sanders made up some ground and could've been named the starter.

During the preseason, though, it became clear Watson was still the frontrunner, and Sanders didn't have a lot of hope to land the starting job. After the second preseason game, Sanders outplayed Watson, and there was a tiny bit of hope. But it was squashed.

According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Browns have gone with Watson as their starting QB.

To put it simply, this is a massive mistake for the Browns. Sanders should've been QB1 in Cleveland.

Browns made huge mistake going with Watson over Sanders

"BREAKING: The Browns are naming Deshaun Watson as their starting QB, per multiple sources," Schultz reports. "Shedeur Sanders will be the backup."

Cleveland is going to start Watson, at least to begin the regular season, as they're going with the veteran, $230 million quarterback over Sanders.

Starting Watson, who's proven he doesn't have much upside anymore at this point in his career, is already a bad decision, even without considering the off-field problems. That was seen after the second preseason game, where Watson expressed his frustration over the home crowd booing him while he was on the field.

Some in the industry believed his postgame comments could've been the end of his tenure in Cleveland, but instead the Browns have named him the starting quarterback.

Those off-field issues are only part of why this is a bad decision. Watson has little upside, and there's just about no way the Browns elect to keep him beyond this season anyway.

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Simply put, Watson is not going ot be a part of the Browns' future. Sanders, on the other hand, even if it's a very small chance, could actually become the Browns' starting QB beyond the 2026 season if he breaks out this year.

Even if he is just fine, or even a little underwhelming, he could be a nice, cheap backup QB for the next two seasons on his rookie deal.

Sanders' upside is much greater than Watson's, both in the short and long term. Besides, this team isn't going to be a contender this season. They're rebuilding, and the QB1 this season probably won't be the QB1 next year.

Handing the keys to the offense over to Watson, who has beef with the Cleveland Browns' fanbase and is really only on the roster because the Browns don't have much choice, is a big mistake.

The Browns will probably end up starting Sanders for a large chunk of the 2026 season anyway. So instead of sending Watson out there hoping for a miracle, why not use Sanders as the starting QB, who at least has some upside?

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