The Browns’ quarterback battle is taking shape.
Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Chabot reported Wednesday that Deshaun Watson “has the inside track to be named QB1” for the franchise.
Although much can change before Week 1 in early September, Watson reportedly has “an edge over Shedeur Sanders,” who ended last season as the starting quarterback in Cleveland, during voluntary minicamp.
Both signal-callers took first-team reps during last week’s practices, but it was Watson who ended up with the most looks.
The Browns will also take a look at 2025 third-round pick Dillon Gabriel, who spent time last season as Cleveland’s starting QB.
The trio is learning a new offense under Todd Monken, who took over as head coach after the firing of Kevin Stefanski following three seasons as the offensive coordinator of the Ravens.
During the NFL Scouting Combine in February, Monken said the team would hold an open competition between the three quarterbacks for the starting job.
Monken spoke highly of Watson, who missed all of last season with an Achilles tear, after his hiring.
“Anytime that you have a player that at one time has exhibited the skill set at an elite level,” Monken said in February. “I think you’re always going to give them the benefit of the doubt that somehow we might be able to get that out of him again, and I think that’s how you should look at every player.”
Watson has played in just 19 games for Cleveland since being traded by the Texans in 2022 and later signing a massive five-year, fully guaranteed deal worth $230 million.
In addition to his Achilles injury, the former first-round pick served an 11-game suspension in 2022 stemming from sexual misconduct allegations.
