Overview
- Deshaun Watson has received the bulk of first‑team reps in OTAs and multiple analysts have projected him as the early frontrunner to win the Browns’ starting job.
- Head coach Todd Monken is deliberately rotating quarterbacks in practice and has said he wants the starter decided by the end of minicamp or at least set by training camp.
- Watson’s recent medical history — two Achilles surgeries and a prior shoulder operation — and his limited play in Cleveland make availability a central concern for whether he can carry the team for a full season.
- Shedeur Sanders finished 2025 as the on‑field option, showed late flashes but also turnover problems, and now faces a tradeoff between immediate snaps and long‑term development if Watson is named starter.
- Several analysts recommend the Browns explore trading Dillon Gabriel to clear room for rookie Taylen Green as a developmental third option and to recoup assets given Cleveland’s roster and cap constraints.