As the Browns gear up for the final minicamp tomorrow (mandatory), the media has gone from the Myles Garrett trade back to who the hell is going to be the starting QB for the team. Two weeks ago, everyone was reporting it would be Deshaun Watson. Last week it was going to be Shedeur Sanders. Two weeks ago, Watson looked good. Last week he didn’t. Sanders is making strides, but, according to head coach Todd Monken, he’s still retreating in the pocket and throwing off his back foot.
Previously, Monken had said he’d have a starter named by the time training camp started in July. Not so fast my friend. Last Wednesday he said, “In a perfect world, you’d love to have your starting quarterback, right?” Monken said after OTA practice No. 8 on June 3. “And you’d love to have your O-line set. I’m not sure we’ll be there, I’m just not. I think both quarterbacks have played well enough where we haven’t really been in pads. We haven’t played any games yet. Haven’t really got to that point yet.” He admitted the competition is close, “Every day I kind of lean one way or the other with quarterbacks,” he said. “But we still got to get to that point…and then quarterback, who’s going to start for us. But I’m fired up by the quarterbacks. I just tell you, we got two starting level quarterbacks. We really do.” The statement about having two starting level quarterbacks could be seen two ways. One, they’re both advancing or two, neither one has separated themselves from the other.
I maintain Watson will not take another meaningful snap for the Browns. So that leaves Sanders as the starter, but if he’s going dispel the fears of many fans, he needs to separate himself this week. Yesterday I decided to watch games from last year (Sanders) and from 2024 (Watson). My only conclusion is how either of these guys can be in the conversation for starting. Fans of both will maintain neither QB had the benefit of a good offensive line and offensive weapons. Some will point out the failures in play calling by former head coach Kevin Stefanski. All those factors are true, but the majority of the failures by both land on the shoulders of both.
I’m not anti-Sanders, but I am anti-Watson. I’m a tear the band-aid type of person, so the quicker this team gets rid of Watson (start of the league year in 2027) the happier I’ll be. If Sanders can show the head coach, he can be a viable starter in the NFL, then that’s the best thing for the team. He’ll have a better offensive line, better receivers and an actual running game. Monken is supposed to be a coach who gets the best out of any QB and can fix an offense which quite frankly was offensive to watch. If Sanders can win the job, the Browns won’t have to search for their savior in the 2027 draft. If he can’t, the Browns might be searching for a veteran QB at the end of training camp. Stay safe and Go Browns.