There are so many things that are playing into the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback competition that it can be difficult to keep track of all of them. That’s what happens when there isn’t a clear choice for the job, as both Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders leave a lot to be desired.
However, one test may be moving the needle toward Watson as the preseason opener approaches. Head coach Todd Monken has put a huge emphasis on attention to detail, with each play having to be run perfectly from start to finish. As a 10-year NFL veteran, Watson has a significant advantage over Sanders in that regard.
With that in mind, insider Jake Trotter said Sanders’ camp performance is raising questions about whether he can live up to Monken’s demands regarding the finer points of his offense.
“You always wonder why Shedeur isn’t getting more run within the building. He has had his moments on the field. A lot of these other quarterbacks have not had moments, the leader in the clubhouse included. I wonder if it’s a lot of this stuff like getting in and out of the huddle, the snaps, the cadence. Just a lot of small things that I think have plagued Shedeur, is what I’ve heard. I could see Todd Monken being a lot more comfortable with Deshaun Watson running a functional offense than Shedeur right now,” Trotter said.
"You always wonder why Shedeur isn't getting more run inside the building," – @Jake_Trotter wonders what's happening that we don't see in practice with the QB battle. pic.twitter.com/bt2HD5NsVu
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) August 7, 2026
Watson and Sanders theoretically were starting from the same point in learning the Browns’ new offense under Monken and coordinator Travis Switzer. However, it is worth remembering that Sanders played his college football with his father as his head coach in an offense tailored to his skills.
Meanwhile, Watson has been through this process multiple times, with a change in offensive coordinators while he was with the Houston Texans, and then again whenever he was able to play with the Browns over the past five seasons. It has always been thought that he would thrive in Monken’s style of offense, with its passing game emphasis on downfield throws, and his superior athleticism would take care of the rest.
Now, it looks like his ability to do something as simple as managing the huddle efficiently is giving him an edge. It is hard to see how Sanders can make up enough ground in those areas to overtake him.
Whoever starts the preseason opener against the Chicago Bears next Saturday may take an insurmountable lead in the competition, especially if he earns that same assignment the next week in a joint practice and preseason contest against the Buffalo Bills.
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