Shedeur Sanders may be in line for a promotion on the Browns’ depth chart after Joe Flacco’s departure, though speculation about Deshaun Watson’s potential return adds uncertainty to his outlook.
The Browns sent Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday in a rare trade within the division. The expectation is that Sanders will be elevated to the No. 2 spot as the primary backup to Dillon Gabriel.
However, Watson’s looming return is a potential wild card in the quarterback conversation. Watson is recovering from a twice-ruptured Achilles tendon that required two surgeries, the latest of which took place in January. There’s an expectation that Watson could return to practice later this month.
“If Deshaun gets back into the practice setting, I think there’s a pretty decent chance that it starts to show up that he could be the best option,” Albert Breer of the MMQB said during an appearance on 92.3 The Fan. “Let’s take Shedeur Sanders’ last name out of it. Who do the Browns have more invested in? Who do the Browns have a better chance of getting it right long term with? I figure still Deshaun Watson.”
Browns Called Trade to Deshaun Watson ‘Swing and Miss’
Many Browns fans would disagree with that sentiment from Breer. Since the 2022 blockbuster trade that brought him to Cleveland, Watson has gone just 9-10 as Cleveland’s starter and missed significant time over the last three seasons. In that span, he’s totaled 3,365 passing yards with 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
On paper, the Browns’ commitment to Watson remains undeniable — his fully guaranteed $230 million contract makes that clear. Yet, Cleveland appeared ready to turn the page this offseason, when team owner Jimmy Haslam described the trade for Watson as a “swing and miss.”
“We took a big swing-and-miss with Deshaun,” Haslam said at the league’s annual meeting. “We thought we had the quarterback; we didn’t. And we gave up a lot of draft picks to get him, so we’ve got to dig ourselves out of that hole.
“… [The trade] was an entire organization decision and it ends with Dee [Haslam] and I, so hold us accountable.”
Still, Breer thinks the Browns could decide to give Watson a look before Sanders.
We have so much proof that Deshaun can play at a high level in the NFL. And we have zero that Shedeur can do it,” Breer said. “They have to pay (Watson) next year anyway. Do you want to get a firmer answer on what he is as a player at this point before you decide to pay him $46 million to go away? It’s a really interesting question. If I’m the Browns and he looks awesome in practice for a couple of weeks, I’m tempted to see what he looks like in a game.
Browns QB Deshaun Watson Has Drawn Positive Reviews During Recovery
Watson has remained around the Browns‘ facility during his recovery and has been spotted on the sideline during games. He’s drawn praise for his contributions to the quarterback room.
“Deshaun’s doing awesome, he’s doing great,” Stefanski said during training camp. “I’m excited for him. I get to watch him work out as well. I get to be in the meeting room with him every single day. So, he’s doing great.”
Watson has been providing updates on his journey back to the field on social media. He’s vowed that when he returns, he’ll be “way better than before.”
The speculation will continue to swirl. But the Browns are focused on supporting rookie Dillon Gabriel as he prepares for his second career start against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Gabriel passed for 190 yards and two touchdowns in a Week 5 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London.
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