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Veteran Deshaun Watson has reportedly held a lead over second-year pro Shedeur Sanders in the competition for the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback job since late April.
Nevertheless, first-year Browns head coach Todd Monken was not prepared to name Watson the team's Week 1 QB1 before the NFL's summer break got underway in June. During a Wednesday appearance on ESPN Cleveland, Browns insider Tony Grossi suggested that Cleveland's depth chart won't change between now and the end of the preseason.
Why Deshaun Watson is the favorite to win the Browns' starting job over Shedeur Sanders
Specifically, Grossi was asked if he would be surprised to see Sanders win the job from Watson in August.
"I would be surprised," Grossi responded. "And I base that on, I don't think at this stage, Watson's gonna come back to the pack. Although the gap was closed at the end of spring ball, I think now that we get into more live action, second week of practice, they're gonna determine that Watson is the best right now."
A previous report insisted that the Browns plan to pick the quarterback who gives them "the best chance to win," even though Watson seemingly has no long-term future with the club. Earlier this week, Grossi noted that "the exit strategy of [Watson's] departure after the 2026 season already has been written." Grossi also pointed out that Watson is "being paid $46M in the last year of his contract and should be amply motivated to create a free-agent market for himself in 2027."
Thus, the feeling is that Watson won't lose any ground once the competition resumes. Veteran Browns players are due to report for training camp on July 28.
Will Deshaun Watson reclaim his best form?
Watson didn't play during the 2021 season, his last with the Houston Texans, amid his desire to be traded. He served an 11-game suspension during the 2022 campaign related to allegations of sexual misconduct during massage sessions. His 2023 season ended prematurely because of a shoulder injury, and he hasn't taken a regular-season in-game snap since he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in October 2024.
During Wednesday's segment, Grossi said he doesn't think Watson can "approach" what the signal-caller was when he earned three Pro Bowl nods with the Texans from 2017 through the 2020 campaign. That said, it sounds like Watson remains the favorite to get the start for Cleveland's Week 1 game at the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 13. The Browns will open the preseason with a matchup at the Chicago Bears on Aug. 15.
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