The Athletic’s Zac Jackson said he feels “stronger than ever that Shedeur Sanders, not Deshaun Watson, is the favorite to win the starting job.”

03 April 2026

Jackson said that he believes “there will be a true competition” between Sanders and Watson in camp, but adds that “the most direct path to the Browns escaping the Watson mess” is for Sanders to take the job and provide “at least league-average quarterback play.” Watson has failed to live up to the massive five-year, $230 million contract the Browns gave him in 2022, appearing in just 19 games and posting a pedestrian 3,365-19-12 line, with a 9-10 record as a starter. Sanders struggled himself as a rookie, throwing for 1,400-7-10 while completing 56.6 percent of his passes and struggling to avoid sacks — a major hole in his game that popped up throughout his college career. The Browns could still take a shot on a rookie QB in this month’s draft, as they currently hold two first-round picks and another pick in the second and third rounds. However, if they don’t use a Day 1 or Day 2 pick on a signal-caller, things could quickly shape up for Sanders to win the QB battle, despite the front office recently hyping Watson in recent weeks.