Cleveland Browns quarterback battle: Shedeur Sanders vs. returning Deshaun Watson

Shedeur Sanders, the former Colorado quarterback who fell to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, was selected 144th overall by the Cleveland Browns. After a season as the fourth‑string QB, injuries and trades elevated him to the starting role, where he logged 1,400 passing yards, seven touchdowns, ten interceptions and a low impact score in eight games.

Former Super Bowl champion LeSean McCoy has weighed in, saying he would prefer a younger starter but indicating that the Browns are likely to return Deshaun Watson to the field. Watson, the 2017 second‑round pick who missed the previous season with a torn Achilles, is expected to retake the starting job.

Separately, pundit Garrett Bush alleged that NFL executives conspired to cause Sanders’ draft slide, a claim echoed by his father Deion Sanders, who accused unnamed league officials of undermining his son’s draft position. The Browns are now preparing for a QB decision that could shape the franchise’s direction for the next season.