Overview
- As of July 24, 2026 the Browns have not named a Week 1 starter and plan to judge Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders in live, padded work during training camp and preseason.
- Las Vegas sportsbooks and some local insiders currently favor Deshaun Watson to open the season, but coaches have publicly praised Sanders’ offseason progress and grasp of the offense.
- Watson returns after two Achilles surgeries that cost him the 2025 season and enters the final year of a fully guaranteed five‑year, $230 million contract, which raises durability and sunk‑cost questions.
- Sanders, a 2025 fifth‑round pick who started seven games as a rookie and showed late improvement, offers a low‑cost, team‑controlled alternative if he wins the job.
- The outcome is likely to force roster moves before the regular season, with projections expecting the Browns to trade a third quarterback and with the starter choice shaping short‑term cap and draft plans.