The path for Shedeur Sanders to see the field this season could get more complicated once Deshaun Watson enters the picture.
Watson is currently recovering from a twice-ruptured Achilles but he’s expected to return to practice in the next few weeks. Sanders is currently the backup to starter Dillon Gabriel. The assumption is that he’ll get the next shot if Gabriel continues to struggle. However, NFL insider Albert Breer is not so sure if that’ll be the case if Watson is available.
“I wouldn’t be surprised,” Breer said on 92.3 The Fan in response to a question about Watson seeing the field before Sanders. “My guess is they’d like to see both of them. But I think we have to remember that Shedeur is a fifth-round pick. The investment the organization has in those two guys is on different planets. One guy is under contract for the next three years, after this year, at a very low number. The other guy you have under contract for one more year, and you’re guaranteeing him $46 million. It’s not even close to the same thing, regardless of how famous the fifth-round pick may be.”
Deshaun Watson Decision May Be Obvious for Browns
The Browns are reeling at 2-7 following a loss to the lowly New York Jets, and the playoffs are not something realistically in reach for Cleveland. But players like Myles Garrett still want to win and Breer believes Watson is the player who will clearly give the Browns the best shot to do that.
“The players know who the best players are and who will give them the best shot to win,” Breer said. “With Deshaun’s experience and everything else, if he’s truly healthy and ready to go, I have a hard time seeing a scenario where he would get out there to practice and it wouldn’t be relatively obvious that he gives them a better shot to win.
“I don’t think it’s the wrong thing for the organization either, based on the amount of time, money and effort you’ve put into making Deshaun Watson your quarterback. … You have one year left with him and you’re on the hook for the $46 million. Wouldn’t you want to know or have an idea of what that looks like before you kick him out the door?”
Browns Planning for Future Without Deshaun Watson
The problem for the Browns that Breer may not be considering is that Watson is not in their future plans. They’re on the hook for Watson’s fully guaranteed contract but have admitted that the 2022 blockbuster trade for him was a “swing and miss.”
Cleveland is actively planning for its future, which could potentially include Gabriel and Sanders. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said that playing the two rookies this season was a priority, especially with Cleveland holding two first-round picks in next year’s draft.
For now, the Browns are sticking with Gabriel, despite his 1-4 record as the starter and lackluster performances. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski has declined to give any details on whether Sanders will play this season.
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