NFL free agency 2026: Why Deshaun Watson could force the Browns to sit out the free-agent QB carousel
Cleveland Browns first-year head coach Todd Monken sees promise in second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders, according to league sources. But Sanders won’t be handed the starting quarterback job. And some sources with knowledge of the Browns’ conversations wonder if he’ll even beat out internal options.
The questions don’t primarily stem from uncertainty over Sanders, who general manager Andrew Berry said “grew a lot from the first start to the seventh start.” Rather, they stem from a growing underlying belief that Deshaun Watson could make a serious move as the Browns’ starting job in 2026.
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The Browns opened the 21-day practice window for Watson in December after he missed all team drills the previous season while recovering from a torn Achilles in 2024. Returning to practice of course requires far less agility and control than live play, but Watson’s performance caught the attention of some in the building.
Watson is set to receive $46 million guaranteed this season whether he plays or not, giving the Browns motivation to keep him on the roster. Add in a 2027 quarterback draft class that is much stronger than the 2026 group, and there’s a reason for the Browns to avoid expensive quarterbacks this offseason.
Monken described the position as an “open competition,” praising Sanders’ “elite playmaking ability” while saying the 2024 fifth-round pick has “a ways to go,” like most players coming off their rookie years.
“Why shouldn’t it be an open competition? » Monken said at the combine. “I don’t mean this harshly, but I don’t think there’s been enough film over the last couple of years, one way or another, to say, ‘Boy, we still have our starter at quarterback.’ Whether internally or externally.
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Open competition could favor Watson, whose athletic ceiling and processing ceiling each exceed Sanders’, according to league talent evaluators. Serious injuries, as well as suspensions for allegations of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct, have sidelined Watson in recent years. Watson last played a full season in 2020, when he led the league with 4,823 passing yards. He played six games in 2022 and 2023 each, followed by seven in 2025. There should be real questions — but the parts of the game most likely to challenge him after a long absence won’t come until the regular season. And the Browns want a decision before then, Monken said.
“You hope that by the time you get to training camp, the reps you give to a quarterback will be for your starter,” Monken said. “I don’t know if we’ll get to that place. That will be determined in the offseason. It’s just another part of the piece.”
