Deshaun Watson Browns training camp QB competition update
By Michael
Deshaun Watson gets all Day 3 first-team reps
Deshaun Watson (QB, Cleveland Browns) ran with the first-team offense through all of Day 3 team drills, both 7v7 and 11v11, per ESPN Cleveland. That follows an uneven three-day stretch that has kept the Browns QB competition very much unsettled.
Watson took most of the first-team reps on Day 1 but struggled. He finished 12-of-22 with two interceptions, including picks by cornerbacks Denzel Ward and Damarri Mathis on back-to-back throws. Deep balls sailed. Head coach Todd Monken defended him afterward, calling one of the interceptions an "elite" throw that Ward made a great play on.
Day 2 flipped things around. Monken had said after Day 1 that Shedeur Sanders (QB, Cleveland Browns) would get his turn with the ones, and that is exactly what happened. Sanders ran the first-team offense while Watson worked with the second unit. Watson reportedly threw much cleaner in 7-on-7 than he had the day before, according to reporter Zac Jackson.
What Sanders has shown so far
Sanders finished Day 1 completing 16 of 19 passes with no turnovers, compared to Watson's 12-of-22 with two interceptions. Sanders started the final seven games of the 2025 season and came into camp with real momentum. Browns GM Andrew Berry has said age is not a factor in the decision and that it comes down to who performs better.
Dillon Gabriel (QB, Cleveland Browns) went 7-of-9 with one interception on Day 1. He and sixth-round rookie Taylen Green are not factors in the starting competition right now.
What this means for your roster
The Browns are treating this as a genuine open competition. Watson got Days 1 and 3 with the first team, Sanders got Day 2. No timeline has been set for a decision. Monken has said starters will play in the preseason, which makes those games the clearest signal you will get.
Do not roster either Watson or Sanders as a starter right now. Monitor preseason snap splits. If Watson locks down the first-team job through August, he carries a higher floor given the offensive infrastructure around him. If Sanders wins the job, he becomes a legitimate streaming option given his mobility and the fact he has already started seven NFL games.