The Cleveland Browns’ quarterback competition remains one of the biggest storylines of the preseason. Shedeur Sanders, entering his second NFL season, is battling veteran Deshaun Watson for the starting job in Todd Monken’s offense.
Cleveland fell 34–10 to the Chicago Bears on Saturday, dropping to 0–1 in the preseason, but the final score was secondary to evaluating the Browns’ quarterbacks and determining which style of play gives the offense its best chance moving forward.
Shedeur Sanders: More Aggressive, Still Developing
Sanders entered during the third quarter and played into the fourth, finishing:
6/11 | 79 YDS | 0 TD | 1 INT
The numbers were uneven, but Sanders showed a willingness to attack farther downfield rather than simply living on underneath throws.
That aggressiveness is part of what separates him from Watson.
Sanders operates primarily as a traditional pocket passer. He wants to drop back, read the field and deliver the football rather than immediately relying on his legs when the pocket becomes uncomfortable.
That approach comes with a requirement: his processing and operation have to become quicker.
One sequence stood out when Cleveland didn’t get into the huddle until approximately 13 seconds remained on the play clock. Those operational details become extremely important when a young quarterback is competing for a starting NFL job.
His interception was another learning moment. Sanders took responsibility for the mistake afterward rather than shifting blame elsewhere.
S³ Take
The interception isn’t the biggest concern. Command of the offense is.
Sanders wants to push the football downfield, which gives Cleveland an opportunity to create explosive plays. But if he’s going to win from the pocket, he has to consistently control the huddle, recognize the defense and get the offense lined up with enough time to operate.
The encouraging part is that the Browns are giving him another major opportunity.
Sanders is expected to split first-team practice reps with Watson during joint work with Buffalo before getting the start and playing the entire first half on August 22.
That could be the most important evaluation of his preseason.
Deshaun Watson: Efficient, But Where Are the Explosive Plays?
Watson produced the better statistical performance:
11/15 | 126 YDS
But the numbers don’t tell the entire story.
Watson didn’t complete a pass traveling more than 10 yards downfield. Much of Cleveland’s passing attack consisted of checkdowns and quick underneath throws.
Some of that can be attributed to an offensive line that struggled to consistently protect the quarterback. Getting the football out quickly may have been part of the game plan.
Watson also showed some of the mobility that separates his game from Sanders’. He can extend plays and give the coaching staff more options outside the pocket.
Nevertheless, Cleveland still needs more explosiveness from the passing game.
S³ Take
Watson currently gives the Browns mobility and veteran experience, while Sanders offers the possibility of a more aggressive vertical passing attack.
That’s what makes this competition interesting.
It’s not simply about which quarterback completes the highest percentage of passes during the preseason. Todd Monken has to determine which quarterback’s style gives Cleveland the better offensive identity.
Two QBs, Two Different Offensive Philosophies
The Browns aren’t evaluating identical quarterbacks.
With Watson
- More movement outside the pocket
- Quicker underneath throws
- More opportunities to extend plays athletically
- Potentially more flexibility when protection breaks down
With Sanders
- More traditional drop-back concepts
- Greater willingness to attack vertically
- Increased emphasis on timing and pocket awareness
- More pressure on the offensive line to maintain protection
That means Cleveland’s playcalling could look noticeably different depending on who wins the job.
Dylan Gabriel Has Ground to Make Up
Dylan Gabriel didn’t strengthen his position in the quarterback room.
5/8 | 22 YDS | 0 TD | 1 INT | 2 SACKS
Gabriel struggled to generate offense and had difficulty consistently finding opportunities downfield.
One preseason game won’t determine a roster decision, but performances become increasingly important when multiple quarterbacks are competing for limited spots.
Right now, the larger quarterback conversation appears to be moving toward Watson vs. Sanders.
KC Concepcion Gives Cleveland Another Weapon
One of the more interesting offensive developments was the versatility of KC Concepcion.
Cleveland used him in multiple ways, including a jet-sweep touchdown, showing that the Browns may view him as more than a conventional receiver.
That versatility can create matchup problems.
Motion, jet sweeps, screens and traditional routes can force defenses to account for Concepcion before the football is even snapped.
The next challenge is proving he can consistently create separation against NFL defensive backs.
The Mental Side of Receiver Play
The Browns’ offensive evaluation also highlighted something that doesn’t always appear in a box score: route running at the NFL level is a mental battle.
Receivers can’t simply run predetermined routes like they’re following lines on a diagram.
They have to recognize leverage, understand coverage, identify how defenders are playing them and adjust accordingly.
Speed gets attention.
Understanding how to get open keeps you on the field.
S³ Bottom Line
Cleveland’s quarterback competition is beginning to develop a clear contrast.
Deshaun Watson represents mobility, experience and the safer underneath passing game.
Shedeur Sanders represents pocket passing, vertical aggression and developmental upside.
Sanders’ 6-of-11, 79-yard, one-interception performance wasn’t enough to declare him the leader of the competition, but it also wasn’t enough to remove him from it.
His biggest challenge isn’t proving that he can throw the football.
It’s proving that he can command an NFL offense.
Getting the play, controlling the huddle, reading the defense, managing the clock and delivering the football on time will ultimately matter more than one preseason interception.
Now he gets his opportunity.
With first-team reps coming and Sanders scheduled to play the entire first half against Buffalo on August 22, the Browns are about to give him something every quarterback competing for a job wants:
A legitimate chance to take it.
S³ Players to Watch
Shedeur Sanders: Can he improve the operation while maintaining his aggressive downfield mentality?
Deshaun Watson: Can he turn efficient short completions into a more explosive passing attack?
Dylan Gabriel: Needs a stronger performance to improve his position in a crowded quarterback room.
KC Concepcion: Emerging as a versatile weapon Cleveland can manufacture touches for.
S³ Preseason Watch
The Browns’ QB battle is officially on.
