Browns QBs must improve most in one glaringly obvious way in 2026

Another year, another season where the Cleveland Browns enter training camp with uncertainty at the quarterback position.

With rookies set to report for camp tomorrow, the Browns are expected to hold a competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders for the job of QB1. This comes after Sanders and Gabriel split most of the games as the starter in 2025 after the trade of Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals.

However, one key statistic might throw Watson, even off of two torn achilles injuries, into the frontrunner position for the starting job. Sam Hoppen, an NFL data scientist, has created a chart that shows just how positive or negative an impact a quarterback had both from within and outside of the pocket in 2025.

And both Sanders and Gabriel find themselves in the bottom left corner (via SamHoppen on X).

To be fair, neither quarterback scored super well from inside the pocket either, with both Sanders and Gabriel sitting in the negatives in Expected Points Added per Play a year ago. And it matches the eye test. The quarterback play from the Browns' quarterbacks a year ago was abysmal.

Does this favor Deshaun Watson in Browns' quest for QB1?

With new head coach Todd Monken calling for a more athletic quarterback because of this need to improvise outside of structure when called upon, one has to wonder how much that favors Watson in the upcoming quarterback battle as training camp gets set to begin.

Either way, finding a quarterback who has the athleticism to improvise is key in the NFL, because not every pocket will be perfect, and not every play structure will remain integral for 60 minutes. Looking at the Browns' roster, only Watson and rookie Taylen Green have that requisite athleticism. This is a strong indication that the Browns will more than likely not be looking for a new quarterback in 2027.

This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns QBs must improve most in one glaringly obvious way in 2026