With coaching camp beginning in lower than 4 weeks for the Cleveland Browns, it’s time to kick off our annual positional previews main as much as the season. We’ll undergo every place, beginning with quarterback, to present a high-level overview of who’s competing for a roster spot and what their expectations or odds of constructing the roster are.
Final yr, we had been evaluating Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett because the staff’s prime two quarterback choices main into coaching camp. This yr, it’s Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders.
1. Deshaun Watson – Veteran QB
Peak: 6-3 | Weight: 223 lbs | Age: 30Experience: 10 years | Faculty: Clemson
BEREA, OHIO – JUNE 11: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns runs off the sector after the Cleveland Browns Necessary Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2026 in Berea, Ohio. (Photograph by Nick Cammett/Getty Photographs) Getty Photographs
As I used to be placing collectively this piece and evaluating it to final yr, it was fairly humorous how I assumed “age 30” and “10 years of experience” for Deshaun Watson made him older, till I noticed it was “age 40” and “19 years of experience” for Joe Flacco final season. In that sense, Watson continues to be a spring rooster.
There was a time a yr or two in the past after we thought Watson’s days of taking part in with the Browns had been completed for good. Now, he’s the frontrunner for the staff’s beginning quarterback job, assisted by the staff having a brand new head coach in Todd Monken, however largely by the truth that the remainder of the expertise on the place is unproven.
It’s loopy to suppose that the final time Watson performed a full season with productive outcomes was again in 2020. In his first couple of years with the Browns, I attributed a lot of his struggles to a mixture of rust and being in his personal head. I’m nonetheless a powerful believer that going from “being a good guy and beloved” to being the face of negativity and mock (for his off-the-field actions) performed a giant position in his efficiency downfall. He was paid a document quantity on the time he joined the Browns, and all Cleveland has gotten out of it’s possibly a stable half or two of soccer earlier than he suffered an Achilles harm.
Sufficient time has handed to the place that is as clear of a slate as Watson can ask for at this stage of his profession. He’ll little question seem like one of the best quarterback in coaching camp classes, however what occurs throughout the preseason video games? Will he thrive or falter? I feel greater than ever, the preseason performances will dictate who will get the beginning job for Cleveland this season.
2. Shedeur Sanders – Standard QB
Peak: 6-2 | Weight: 212 lbs | Age: 24Experience: 2 years | Faculty: Colorado
BEREA, OHIO – JUNE 11: Shedeur Sanders #2 of the Cleveland Browns walks to the sector throughout the Cleveland Browns Necessary Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2026 in Berea, Ohio. (Photograph by Nick Cammett/Getty Photographs) Getty Photographs
We bought excited for Shedeur Sanders final yr. He began the Browns’ ultimate 7 video games and compiled a 3-4 document, which appears to be like nice contemplating the staff’s 4-12 general document. Nonetheless, these ultimate two video games had been additionally led closely by the staff’s protection for those who learn between the document. For the season, Sanders threw for 1,400 yards (56.6% completion), 7 TD, 10 INT, and ran 21 occasions for 169 yards and 1 TD.
When he first got here into camp final yr, Kevin Stefanski and firm had been so delicate along with his reps and what he was on condition that he by no means noticed any motion with the first-team offense, even amidst a contest. The sensation was that he was a developmental participant who the staff appreciated, however didn’t wish to rush into motion, regardless of all the hype surrounding him. When Flacco was traded and Dillon Gabriel suffered a concussion towards the Ravens, although, he was thrust into motion towards the Las Vegas Raiders. By that time, Gabriel had been struggling and the staff was accomplished from rivalry, so it was type of a, “Well, let’s see what we have with Sanders now.”
The outcomes had been encouraging. There’s a presence about Sanders which you can’t deny, and he made some nice throws at occasions, and began to point out some good escapability and evasiveness. The outcomes had been nonetheless largely inconsistent, although, and his worst behavior remained backpedaling within the face of stress. To be truthful, although, all the Browns’ quarterbacks had been mainly working with one of many worst offensive traces final yr and a bottom-tier performing group of receivers.
I feel Sanders shines extra throughout stay recreation motion than he does in observe, which could damage him within the competitors early on. If Monken is inspired by what he sees as camp goes on, the potential to let Sanders develop all year long may out-weigh the stagnant nature of what we’ve seen from Watson. The opposite risk is that if Watson wins the job, some surprise if Sanders will get traded — as a result of if Cleveland goes all-in for a quarterback subsequent yr, then that is most likely the purpose by which you get essentially the most worth (albeit not a lot) for him.
3. Dillion Gabriel – Backup QB
Peak: 5-11 | Weight: 205 lbs | Age: 25Experience: 2 years | Faculty: Oregon
BEREA, OHIO – APRIL 21: Dillon Gabriel #8 of the Cleveland Browns walks off the sector after a voluntary veteran minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on April 21, 2026 in Berea, Ohio. (Photograph by Nick Cammett/Diamond Photographs by way of Getty Photographs) Diamond Photographs/Getty Photographs
Dillon Gabriel appeared sharp in coaching camp and the preseason final yr, and was given the beginning job in Week 5 after Flacco was traded away. It ought to have been a stable first win for Gabriel, however Minnesota pulled off a shocking game-winning drive. Nonetheless, Gabriel was a formidable 19-of-30 for 190 yards and a pair of TD in that recreation.
For the season, Gabriel accomplished 59.5% of his passes with 7 TD and a pair of INT. The problem as video games went alongside is everybody began realizing that Cleveland actually couldn’t push the ball down the sector when he was at quarterback. These fast hitter, well-timed passes that succeeded within the preseason and his first begin had been being keyed in on by defenders who felt no risk of getting to protect deeper motion.
Like I discussed with Sanders, although, Gabriel, too, may benefit from the improved offensive line and group of large receivers this yr. It’s doable that everybody — from safety, to receivers, to quarterbacks, to teaching — had been abysmal final yr, but it surely’s additionally doable {that a} subset of these contributed to the quarterbacks having no probability to succeed. I nonetheless like what Gabriel can supply in a well-protected offense, however I view him as coming in as a backup on account of that lack of arm energy.
4. Taylen Inexperienced – Rookie QB
Peak: 6-6 | Weight: 230 lbs | Age: 23Experience: Rookie | Faculty: Arkansas
BEREA, OHIO – MAY 08: Taylen Inexperienced #15 of the Cleveland Browns appears to be like on after a rookie minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on Could 08, 2026 in Berea, Ohio. (Photograph by Nick Cammett/Getty Photographs) Getty Photographs
Final, however not least, we have now Taylen Inexperienced. If Stefanski had the posh of two developmental quarterbacks final yr, then Monken will get his personal developmental prospect this yr. Taken within the sixth spherical, nobody expects Inexperienced to vault up the depth chart to compete for a beginning job. Nonetheless, would anybody be stunned if he will get a begin by the top of the yr, given the historical past of the staff?
Inexperienced being on the roster, and a draft decide of Andrew Berry, makes for an attention-grabbing determination. If the staff is struggling to find out who ought to begin, is it sensible to carry 4 quarterbacks on the 53-man roster? That could possibly be one other issue that results in a dealing of Sanders or Gabriel.
Inexperienced has nice dimension and velocity, which makes him an attention-grabbing candidate to include into some sort of bundle offensively. Possibly we’ll get an inkling of whether or not Monken desires to do this throughout camp. All through the offseason, DBN has had a couple of characteristic items on Inexperienced’s potential:
In our ballot query beneath, we’re asking which quarterback you suppose won’t be on the 53-man roster by the top of coaching camp.
Which QB will NOT be on the 53-man roster after coaching camp?
This assumes that Deshaun Watson wins the beginning job, clearly. However even when he did not, it would not appear probably that he can be lower or traded.
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Shedeur SandersDillon GabrielTaylen GreenThe Browns will carry 4 QBsRec 0CommentsThin Stroke Remark Icon BubbleReply
