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The Browns are expected to make several additions on offense this offseason and let Shedeur Sanders compete with Deshaun Watson for the starting quarterback job
The Cleveland Browns endured another miserable season in 2025, and they are once again headed back to the drawing board this offseason. After a messy hiring process, the team landed on Todd Monken as its new head coach, and he will have his work cut out for him. The biggest question surrounding Monken’s new squad is at the quarterback position, where Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson, and Dillon Gabriel will factor into the mix.
Whether or not the Browns believe any of these guys are their quarterback of the future is unknown. With a strong defense in place, though, Cleveland has a solid foundation from which it can build. And according to a recent report, it sounds like they will attack the offensive side of the ball over the offseason, with Sanders and Watson also getting some more good news in the process.
Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson Set to Compete for Starting Quarterback Job
Cleveland entered the 2025 campaign with one of the most complex quarterback depth charts in recent memory. Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett were leading the way, with rookies Gabriel and Sanders filling behind them. Watson wasn’t in the picture, as he missed the entire season recovering from a torn Achilles tendon.
How things shook out was also fascinating. Pickett was traded during training camp, while Flacco also got dealt after initially being named the team’s starter, only to get benched after four games in favor of Gabriel. The third-round rookie didn’t show much during his time under center, and after he suffered a concussion in Week 11, he would lose the job to Sanders, who he showed a bit more promise than during his time under center.
The Browns entered last season without a true answer at quarterback, and it appears they will face the same predicament in 2026. With Sanders and Gabriel still in town, and Watson set to return from injury, Cleveland has options, and it sounds like the plan is to load up on offense over the offseason before letting Sanders and Watson battle for the starting job.
“They are expected to go heavy on offense,” Cameron Wolfe said on “The Insiders.” “Don’t be surprised if they don’t select a quarterback in the first round of this draft. There’s still optimism for Shedeur Sanders there in Cleveland … You also have Deshaun Watson, who started throwing again with his quarterback coach, Quincy Avery, this week. They believe he’ll be involved potentially in that competition.”
Who Should Be the Browns’ Starting Quarterback in 2026?
GettyDeshaun Watson will be in the mix to start for the Cleveland Browns next season.
Right now, there’s really no solid answer when it comes to the Browns’ quarterback position. They could add another passer this offseason, but it seems like they need to truly assess where things stand with the guys at their disposal. The team needs to find out if Watson has anything left in the tank or if they believe that either Gabriel or Sanders is capable of being the long-term starter.
Providing more support on offense will help Cleveland figure things out at the quarterback position, but it’s also worth noting that this team is running the risk of wasting a top-tier defense. The Browns find themselves in a strange spot, and while the offseason is still young, it looks like Sanders and Watson will be battling it out for the starting job once training camp rolls around.
Owen Crisafulli Owen Crisafulli is a Breaking News Writer at Heavy. In addition to writing for Heavy, Owen works as a Content Producer for More Views Media. His work has also appeared on ClutchPoints, The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, Basketball Network, and FanSided, where he shared his insights on a variety of sports topics primarily surrounding the NFL, NBA, and MLB. More about Owen Crisafulli
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