A year after Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslem admitted that the trade for Deshaun Watson was a “big swing-and-miss” for the team, new head coach Todd Monken is letting the quarterback compete with Shedeur Sanders for the starting job in Week 1.
The Browns would benefit from Watson becoming the starter, as the team could receive a conditional pick if he signs with another team during next year’s free agency.
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On Wednesday, Monken praised Watson when talking to reporters after practice. He believes Watson’s athleticism is a superpower.
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BEREA, OHIO – APRIL 21: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns looks on after a voluntary veteran minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on April 21, 2026 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
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“Deshaun’s athleticism shows up,” Monken said, via ESPN. “Obviously he’s had that, but he’s had injuries that have set him back. I wouldn’t say it’s a surprise, but it’s exciting to see — it’s a weapon for him. It’s one of his superpowers, his athleticism.”
Whatever superpowers Monken believes Watson still has remain to be seen in Cleveland. He’s gone 9-10 since the Browns traded for him in 2022, throwing for 3,365 yards, 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
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Watson ran for more than 400 yards in each of his final three seasons in Houston, adding 15 rushing touchdowns. In Cleveland, he’s rushed for a total of 465 yards and scored three touchdowns. Coming off an Achilles tear in 2024 that cost him the entire 2025 campaign, it’s fair to wonder how mobile the 30-year-old quarterback will be in the upcoming season.
Watson, a first-round pick in 2017, showed promise during his four years with the Houston Texans, earning three Pro Bowl nominations in a row. But he hasn’t been the same since he missed the 2021 season for “personal reasons.”
The veteran quarterback will face steep competition from Sanders, whom the Browns took in the fifth round of the 2025 draft. Monken believes Sanders is developing at a rapid pace this spring.
“I think Shedeur’s come miles, in terms of his progressions, getting the ball out, his understanding of concepts,” Monken said. “I think he’s really, really come a long way.”
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By training camp, Sanders might eclipse Watson.
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