The Cleveland Browns do not have a named starting quarterback for 2026 — yet. As of today, it's an open competition between second-year QB Shedeur Sanders, who finished last season as the starter, and veteran Deshaun Watson, back after two lost years. New head coach Todd Monken refused to name a QB1 after minicamp; the battle will be decided in training camp, which opens in Berea on July 23 (rookies) and July 28 (veterans). This page will be updated as the depth chart shakes out.
The Browns' QB Room Right Now: All Four Names
- Shedeur Sanders — Second-year QB, 2025 fifth-round pick (No. 144). Started Cleveland's final seven games as a rookie and enters camp splitting first-team reps.
- Deshaun Watson — Ninth-year veteran. Missed all of 2025 with a twice-ruptured right Achilles; reportedly healthy and in the final year of his fully guaranteed $230 million contract.
- Dillon Gabriel — Second-year QB, 2025 third-round pick. Started six games and appeared in four others as a rookie before an injury opened the door for Sanders.
- Taylen Green — Rookie from Arkansas, the first pick of the sixth round (No. 182) in the 2026 draft. A 6-foot-5, 227-pound athlete with a 4.36 forty and the all-time combine vertical record for a QB; GM Andrew Berry insists he stays at quarterback, citing "rare physical gifts."
Where Shedeur Sanders Stands
Sanders took over when Gabriel got hurt and started the final seven games of 2025, going 3-4 — the best record of any Browns starter on a 5-12 team. The raw numbers were rough: 120-of-212 passing (56.6%) for 1,400 yards, 7 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and 23 sacks. The peak was real, though — a 364-yard, three-touchdown eruption against the Titans in just his third career start, tied for the third-most passing yards ever by a Browns rookie. Yahoo Sports still labeled the full season "historically bad" by ESPN's QBR metric — both sides of the rookie coin.
What's new this summer: Pro Football Talk reports Sanders "can win the Browns' job if he puts in all the work" — specifically the pre-snap operation Monken demands: sliding protections, managing motion, changing plays. PFT says he made visible progress late in the offseason. Sanders has also taken a bold stance on his future — he's "not content" and is "trying to be one of the greatest," with his focus on his own growth, not the Watson comparison.
The Deshaun Watson Situation: Contract and Health
Watson tore his right Achilles in October 2024, re-ruptured it, and had a second surgery in January 2025 — wiping out his entire 2025 season. He's reportedly healthy now. On the money side, Watson carried an NFL-high cap number of roughly $80.7 million into the offseason before Cleveland restructured his deal for a sixth time in March, converting nearly all of his $46 million salary into bonuses for about $36 million in cap relief, per ESPN. It's the final year of the $230 million contract, and CBS Sports notes dead-money charges linger into 2027 and 2028. Earlier offseason reports gave Watson the "inside track" — Monken has since called the race even.
What the Coaches Are Saying
Monken — hired January 28 after Kevin Stefanski was fired following a 5-12 season — says Cleveland has "two starting-level quarterbacks." "They've both played well enough to earn the right to compete to start," he said after minicamp, adding: "I'd love to have it now. We just don't." On Sanders: "Shedeur's come miles in terms of his progressions, getting the ball out, and his understanding of concepts." On Watson: "Deshaun's athleticism shows up." Camp will open with the two alternating first-team reps.
The Myles Garrett Exchange — and the Camp Storylines
The freshest wrinkle: Sanders and Myles Garrett crossed paths at the ESPYs this week — a hug and an exchange of words, all smiles, per Yahoo Sports. Garrett has been bullish on the young QB — "pretty unflappable" — saying, per A to Z Sports: "We're going to give him a shot to prove that he's the guy. He showed some flashes." Add in Gabriel fighting to stay in the mix, rookie Green's freak athleticism, and a city buzzing over our LeBron-Cleveland story, and Berea will be the loudest camp in the NFL this summer.
When Does It Get Decided?
- July 23: Rookies report to Berea
- July 28: Veterans report; Sanders-Watson rep rotation begins
- July 31 – Aug. 12: Open training camp practices
- Mid-August: Preseason opener at the Chicago Bears
- Aug. 20-22: Joint practice with Buffalo, then Bills at home (Aug. 22)
- Late August: Preseason finale vs. New England; expect a named starter by then
Our Read
The leans point one way: an NFL insider told Sportsnaut that Sanders has "bridged the gap," PFT says the job is his if the process work sticks, and analysts read Monken's comments as "concerning news" for Watson, per Yardbarker. Watson's health and contract-year motivation make him a real threat, but Sanders enters camp with momentum, locker-room backing and the last seven starts on his resume. We'll update this guide the moment Cleveland makes it official.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is the Browns' starting quarterback right now?
Nobody has been named as of mid-July 2026. Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson are in an open competition and will alternate first-team reps when training camp opens July 28, per head coach Todd Monken.
Is Shedeur Sanders starting for the Browns?
Not officially yet. Sanders finished 2025 as the starter (3-4 in seven starts) and coaches say he can win the 2026 job in camp. A decision is expected during the August preseason.
What happened to Deshaun Watson?
He twice ruptured his right Achilles — torn in October 2024, re-torn and repaired again in January 2025 — and missed the entire 2025 season. He is reportedly healthy for 2026, the final year of his $230 million contract.
When does Browns training camp start?
Rookies report to Berea on July 23, 2026, and veterans on July 28. Open practices run from July 31, and the preseason ends in late August against the Patriots.
