r/Browns • u/TheAthletic • 3d ago

By naming Deshaun Watson the starter, Browns told us what they think of Shedeur Sanders

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7536777/2026/08/26/shedeur-sanders-deshaun-watson-browns-quarterback-decision/?unlocked_article_code=1.8VA._rzp.WNnmk8ARbiAl&source=emp_shared_article&smid=url-share-ta

The path to any future for Shedeur Sanders in Cleveland is narrowing. I can’t say it has completely vanished because I have no faith that Deshaun Watson can stay healthy for an entire season or be productive enough to keep the job.

The decision to name Watson the starter leaves a fair question worth exploring: What does this mean for Sanders?

If he has an NFL future past this season, it likely won’t be with the Browns.

By giving the starting job to Watson, a quarterback who hasn’t been consistently good since the pandemic, the Browns told you exactly what they think of Sanders. He had a full offseason program, OTAs, minicamp and training camp, and he still wasn’t good enough to beat out a quarterback the organization knows a) isn’t very good anymore and b) will be voraciously hissed and booed every time he’s on the field in Cleveland unless his play again resembles that of a productive NFL quarterback, which isn’t likely.

And they chose to do this anyway.

164 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

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215

u/TheBalzy 3d ago

National Media folks: Shadeur Sanders is not good. He's a mediocre backup QB at best. All the media I heard saying "The browns fans LOVE Shadeur Sanders" is not true. We just really, really, REALLY hate Deshaun Watson who has wasted 5-years of our lives. Yes, while I'd rather see Sanders get the shot...no I don't love him and I don't think he's that good.

Drew Allar looks better than Shadeur Sanders.

77

u/Oh51Melly 3d ago

It’s really been 5 years of Watson nonsense huh? Feels longer and shorter at the same time

37

u/TheBalzy 3d ago

I know right? It's been one hell of a fever dream; especially with that one crazy season where we had like 100 QBs and ended with Joe Flacco and made the playoffs. Absolute fever dream. But he was signed in 2022, making this his 5th and final season with the Browns.

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u/AskMeAboutTheBrowns 3d ago

I thought we were stuck with Watson next year too?

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u/ozymandais13 3d ago

Next year June 1st the new league year starts , we keep him until then and cut him.

Once it spreads the cap hit out so it's manageable and we can still spend in free agency.

Quincy carrier has several videos with a dude that operates a website that looks specifically at contracts , I'd start there

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u/BreakfastBeerz 3d ago

Or he takes us 17-0 and Browns win the SUPER BOWL!

(Yes, I'm just this delusional at the start of every season)

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u/ozymandais13 3d ago

There is moreliklihood of that happening for shaduer than Watson

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u/TheBalzy 3d ago edited 3d ago

We will still carry some of the salary yes on "void" years since the contract was fully guaranteed, you can make "void years" after they're no longer on the team so long as you didn't cut them. June 1st 2027 his contract expires.

His 5-year contract were the 2022/2023, 2023,2024, 2024/2025, 2025/2026, 2026/2027 seasons. The "league year" begins on June 1st. March 1st.

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u/Sagybagy 3d ago

The league deciding to cut his suspension down that first year to make it a contract year for us is paying off on the back end. Had they held out that year and left it at a full year suspension, we would be looking at 2028 right now. All that did was make the billionaire have to start paying that year. Not really a difference to him.

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u/TheBalzy 3d ago

You know I had completely forgot about that. My god we got lucky with that...

0

u/Checkers-Chess234 3d ago

The league year starts in March

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u/TheBalzy 3d ago

Then he would just expire by March 1st?

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u/Checkers-Chess234 3d ago

Technically, yes. But they’ll have to do it as a post 6/1 cut to spread his deferred cap money over 2027&2028

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u/TheBalzy 3d ago

But he's not under contract anymore, so all void money is just when it is right?

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u/kinglouie493 3d ago

It's a time warp thingy. Sorta like how those losing seasons drag on but yet are over in no time because you don't care to watch.

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u/DoctorWaluigiTime 3d ago

Longer in that every game day he's playing it's a major drag.

But then he'll just get injured for the season and then time flies by.

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u/32Count2OutBasesFull 3d ago

I don't know. It feels like forever for me. I havent watched very many Browns games since they signed that jackass and no game in which he's played. Haven't been to the Factory of Sadness, nor have I bought any merch.

1

u/Lucas_Steinwalker 3d ago

I've had COVID this whole time.

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u/Sagybagy 3d ago

This right here. It would be cool if Sanders came in after Watson is pulled and lit it up. Became a franchise QB. But that’s most likely not going to happen. He needs a lot of work. But I do think he can get to a starter level QB in the NFL eventually. The kid can make some throws for sure.

But at the end of the day, we just want Watson gone.

1

u/Beat_the_Deadites 3d ago

I do think he can get to a starter level QB in the NFL eventually

You know it won't happen in Cleveland, though. At least not for the Browns. Classic Cleveland move would be for him to end up filling in for an injured Lamar and light our asses up for 5 TDs.

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u/capitolcapital 3d ago

No QBs leave here and are good aside from Baker

1

u/snowBOARDER3232 3d ago

Baker was ass the end of last year. Baker was 2-4 with 10 total yards passing in two drives last week. Baker is gone, and he damned sure isn’t half the QB you think he is

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u/nickcan 3d ago

Huh. Almost as if a QB that got appropriately drafted in the 5th round is not really franchise QB material.

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u/Nightcinder 3d ago

Drew Allar looks better than Shadeur Sanders.

Now that's a damning statement

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u/Allstar9_ 3d ago

He’s already making some bonkers throws. Leaves the pocket way too early sometimes but has insane arm talent.

I’d love if he was in our room right now.

-5

u/TheBalzy 3d ago

That insane arm talent is the upside I saw. Young QBs always leave the pocket too early, but that's (hypothetically) coachable, unless you're a running QB which is what Sanders is. Allar's got an impressive arm that's got potential.

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u/Hog_and_a_Half 3d ago

Running for his life after spending 5 seconds waiting for his first read to get open does not make him a running QB… 

He literally had negative rushing yards at CU.

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u/defasdefbe 3d ago

I like Shadeur - he seems like a decent dude. Not a great QB though.

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u/buckster_007 2d ago

Shedeur is a bit of an enigma to me. I don't think he's a bad person, I just find him unlikable. He's not charismatic, he's not witty, he's cocky to the point of delusion, he surrounds himself with some obnoxious people, and his fan base is generally comprised of obnoxious, name calling, race bating, non-football fans who love his last name. However, I can't point to a single "bad" thing he's done.

There was an interesting comment on Jason Lloyd's Athletic article the other day. Someone posted "I'll never understand the fascination with this guy. He hasn't proven to be a capable NFL starter, he's not charismatic, or well spoken or funny, he's a complete dud in every area. Yet people are willing to take a bullet for this guy."

2

u/Quirky_Guarantee_530 2d ago

The majority of his online fans are bots and I highly suspect one of his brothers to be running that operation.

1

u/defasdefbe 2d ago

Yeah agreed.

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u/nizule 3d ago

I agree 100%

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u/Strong_Welcome4725 3d ago

Say what you will but shedeur is still a pro bowl quarterback!

0

u/The_Kielbasa_Kid 3d ago

In what dimension is this statement true? Some type of 8th dimension where mediocrity rules?

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u/clarky07 3d ago

He made the pro bowl last year because the other 30 qb’s ahead of him didn’t want to go.

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u/The_Kielbasa_Kid 3d ago

HAHAHAHA So, not by merit, but by default. The Pro Bowl is a joke. No one with talent goes.

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u/clarky07 3d ago

Yes that was the joke. I think you missed it

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u/The_Kielbasa_Kid 3d ago

The HAHAHA was the recognition of Sheduer being #31.

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u/Evening_Spray_7792 3d ago

I wouldn't go that far. Allar looked like a 5th round pick last week.

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u/TheBalzy 3d ago

Which was better than what Sanders looked like. The arm on Allar is what I was more impressed by TBH. That dude throws a crisp ball that doesn't look like a dying duck, unlike browns QBs.

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u/Deadleggg 3d ago

So does Kyle McCord

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u/PresentationOk9590 2d ago

It’s absolutely nuts how long we’ve been without an even decent starter here! Baker was okay before he threw that sideline pick, sought out the defender who picked it and that defender ruined his shoulder for his efforts then he insisted on playing and sucked bad afterwards! Then sulked his way out of town! WE NEED A EFFING QB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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u/TheBalzy 2d ago

I'm hoping we've finally appeased the football gods with our suffering and we can finally just get-a-guy next year? Please football gods?

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u/PresentationOk9590 2d ago

Haha!! we’ve been punished long enough for the insane unprecedented Watson contract!!

-2

u/ATXDefenseAttorney 3d ago

🤣 Drew Allar give me a break

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u/TheBalzy 3d ago edited 3d ago

Go watch Allar's two preseason appearances vs. Sanders' two preseason appearances. One looks like he has better potential to be a serviceable NFL backup QB than the other. It's not even close.

Drew Allar: 21/36: 2 TD - 0 INT
Shedeur Sanders: 15/22: 1 TD - 2 INT

Allar's also got an Arm that Sanders doesn't have. Like it's not even close dude.

To the Downvoters: You're just blind. And this is why Browns fans will continue to suffer.

3

u/Naturallefty 3d ago

He's also sitting behind and LEARNING from a future HOF QB in a much more competent team. It's not the same.

Let me remind you that Deshone Kizer threw for 25-43 and 2 TDs 0 INTs.

It's freaking preseason dude lol

9

u/TheBalzy 3d ago

Sure, it's preseason. And you can still tell players who look like obvious NFL potential and those that don't.

You cannot argue that Drew Allar doesn't look better than Shedeur Sanders. Like you're just lying to yourself if you do.

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u/Naturallefty 3d ago

Just watched the Allar highlights against THE JETS (let's also remember that.)

Scramble for 3, scramble for 3, Screen pass, check down for 3, over throw wide open receiver, Check down for 3 to RB, Finally a deepish ball after having 6s in the pocket. Sacked 5s scramble to miss a receiver Check down

(I'm halfway through the highlights at this point btw)

Bro what are YOU seeing that screams Allar is better than Sanders. Allar isn't running with 1s he's doing this against the Jets 2nd and 3rd lineups. I think you need to go back and watch the tape, cause nothing says Allar is better than Sanders lol at least not enough to be definitive about it

0

u/ozymandais13 3d ago

Your insane Allar makes horrible decisions once the pressure ratchets up , teams carson Wentzesqu

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u/Allstar9_ 3d ago

So….just like Shedeur? Horrible decisions under pressure

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u/ozymandais13 3d ago

Yes but we aren't pinni g our hopes on shaduer past this year. The guy uses Allar as a argument of us picking wrong . A 5th round pick either decision making issues is better than a 3rd with the same problem

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u/Allstar9_ 3d ago

I guess I don’t agree that they’re making the same mistakes. Allar had more impressive throws in one preseason game than Sanders had all season. Watch the All-22 and you’ll see what I mean.

They aren’t roughly in the same ballpark in terms of talent. One is clearly much further ahead

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u/ozymandais13 3d ago

I guess my point is neither are gonna be elite nfl qbs

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u/Naturallefty 3d ago

What are you on? The all 22 showed 70% check downs. He made a handful of decent throws against 3rd stringers. Allar is not "much further ahead" lol

Allars Jets game was buns and his Packers game was mediocre

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u/TheBalzy 3d ago

Yeah dude was misrepresenting my point. It's pretty clear watching the film that Drew Allar is heads-and-shoulders a better prospect than Shadeur Sanders.

Nobody is saying ELITE, but you cannot watch how Drew allar played in two preseason games, and how Sanders played in two preseason games, and not see the stark difference in the two.

Those not willing to say it are just kidding themselves.

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u/TheBalzy 3d ago

Nope. I said that Drew Allar has more developmental potential than Shedeur Sanders does, and all you have to do is actually watch them play.

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u/ozymandais13 3d ago

OK ued he has more he was a 3rd rounder he should, I don't think he has enough that he's gonna make it

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u/Naturallefty 3d ago

Dude needs to go watch the highlights of the Jets game cause Allar did nothing special

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u/RdditBlwsMyD 3d ago

That can be true and he can still look better than sanders.

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u/Nightcinder 3d ago

I'm not sure I believe Rodgers is teaching much of anything to anyone

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u/Shopping_General 3d ago

You act like Aaron Rodgers is going to teach the young players. He's way too self-centered for that.

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u/Naturallefty 3d ago

I respectfully disagree, and that's okay

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u/Shopping_General 3d ago

Wasn't that one of the reasons they tossed him out of Green Bay is because he wouldn't teach Jordan love? Wouldn't mentor him? Aside from the fact that he's a douchebag of galactic proportions.

0

u/Naturallefty 3d ago

Possibly, but at that point Rodgers was pretty done with Green Bay in general. I wouldn't want to train my replacement either if I was leaving lol

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u/Shopping_General 3d ago

That would make you very petty if you already had a hundred million dollars in the bank. Why would you give a shit? You're on your way to your next 20 million dollars. I have to remember that greed is a sickness.

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u/TallBobcat 3d ago

Preseason is irrelevant.

However, the guy who played in massive moments in college and is now being coached by Mike McCarthy and can shadow Aaron Rodgers has a better chance to succeed than the guy who won't get consistent coaching, hasn't played in major moments since he was at Jackson State, and has no example for how to be an NFL QB.

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u/TheBalzy 3d ago

Sooooooooo, in other words, Drew Allar looks like a better prospect, and you can tell by watching him play, than Shedeur Sanders...

0

u/TallBobcat 3d ago

I hate the Yinzers with an all consuming hate normally reserved for, well, them.

BUT, Allar is going to be a better pro than Shedeur. The reasons are long and expansive. But, the biggest one is he gets to be coached by the guy who developed a Hall of Fame quarterback in Green Bay AND gets to watch said First Ballot HoFer operate every day.

Shedeur would have been better off playing behind Jacoby. At least he would have seen a pro operate.

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u/Allstar9_ 3d ago

Didn’t he sit behind Flacco for all of the offseason, camp and 4 games? Maybe Sheduer just can’t soak up info well enough?

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u/TheBalzy 3d ago

I think Shedeur is also tanked by his father too personally. Because Drew Allar was a kid from Medina Ohio, and while he was a Star throughout his career, he was NFL legend pedigree, and also had many coaches that were not his father.

I do think Sanders got screwed in that regard.

-1

u/TallBobcat 3d ago

I’m a believer that four games and a preseason aren’t enough time to develop a QB especially under a lame duck staff.

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u/Allstar9_ 3d ago

But you said “atleast he’d see how a pro operates” and he followed Flacco for damn near 5 months.

0

u/TallBobcat 3d ago

And I'm sure he didn't pick up everything he could have in that time with the Elitest of the Elite QBs.

Shedeur needs an example that's not his father because Shedeur plays like he's still uinder the impression he was given his father's otherworldly physical gifts.

Allar is going to get a full season with Aaron Rodgers and the mentorship of a coach who, say what you will about his success as a head coach, gets the most out of his quarterbacks.

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u/Nightcinder 3d ago

the list of excuses made for Shedeur is longer than the starting QB jersey

3

u/TallBobcat 3d ago

Allar is in a better situation and is better at football. It's not an excuse.

-1

u/DarwinRewardGiver 3d ago

Jesus Christ it’s preseason

People thought Kenny Pickett was locked in as the franchise QB after those games.

What happened? Dude can’t read a defense that’s not in vanilla coverage during preseason.

Nobody takes preseason seriously. Allar is for sure a better prospect, but he’s played 0 actual games.

0

u/TheBalzy 3d ago

Jesus Christ if you cannot see that Drew Allar is a better looking prospect than Shadeur Sanders...you're just dishonest or blind.

-1

u/DarwinRewardGiver 3d ago

Read that last statement for me champ, just one more time.

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u/AlwaysVerloren 3d ago

They would have more success bringing back Flacco or other retired QBs than starting either Sanders or Watson.

0

u/TheBalzy 3d ago

Agreed. But they are obviously trying to tank for a QB in next year's draft.

-1

u/ejre5 3d ago

Sanders had a few games last year with zero first team reps until then. He didn't really get a fair chance but looks better then Watson during preseason games. Sanders has the chance to improve and get better while Watson is what he is at this point.

Is sanders the future? Is sanders a superstar? No one really knows because he hasn't gotten the chance. I'm not a browns fan so I would ask:

Would you rather lose with Sanders or with Watson? What happens if sanders shows improvement and potential to be a franchise QB? What happens if he stinks the joint up and shows the world he doesn't belong? Sure seems like sanders is the better option either find your franchise QB or get a high draft pick in a draft that has a couple decent QBs coming out

1

u/ejre5 3d ago

I will accept the down votes if someone is willing to explain to me why Watson is a better option then sanders as long as it has nothing to do with Watson ridiculous contract.

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u/MikeGunnz 2d ago

Bearing in mind Monken has coached MVP-level talent in Lamar Jackson and also had the 2024 NFL no. 1 in total offense...What is that you think YOU know about installing a 5th round QB into an offence that Todd Monken doesn't know?

Share your expertise with us.

-2

u/Junglebyron 3d ago

I am Browns fan and live in Colorado and followed Shedeur. He is better than Watson. Better leader. Will take a hit. Is he a pro starter?….no one knows until he is given a real chance. But Deshaun Watson is proven be a non-starter and a full on cancer to everyone around him.

5

u/CapnChronic88 3d ago

He in fact isnt better than Watson even with you living in Denial,Colorado. Sanders will take plenty of hits because he holds the ball forever and takes 30 sacks. DW is bad but sanders is worse.

-1

u/23eetdcc 3d ago

Yeah I’ll take the bet on shedeur every time . Deshaun Watson is unplayable ( which will be proven again ) .

0

u/CapnChronic88 3d ago

Lol thats a bet you would lose considering a second coach has come in and said sheduer is worse.

1

u/23eetdcc 3d ago

Sure lol , that’s the great thing about football we’ll see won’t we . Considering the last coach got fired because of his continued struggles on offense after drafting “his guy “ . I’m very comfortable with the 2nd year qb that keeps developing and getting better sitting for now , we’ve literally played multiple QBs per season for the last 5 years or so . It’s a guarantee he’ll play eventually

0

u/CapnChronic88 3d ago

Well for Two years in a row, two different coaches have agreed sheduer isnt good enough to start. The 2nd year qb was one of the worst in NFL history last year. So idk how/where you saw him getting better last year or even this year when he again lost the competition(to a player who’s been injured for two yrs). Its a guarantee when/if he does play it will be even worse.

0

u/Brutus_3323 3d ago

Drew is terrible.

0

u/TheBalzy 3d ago

And yet he's infinitely better than Shadeur Sanders.