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The Cleveland Browns entered last season with one of the NFL’s more crowded quarterback rooms.
Sheduer Sanders took over the starting quarterback duties in Week 12 last season, and after two more starts, he was named the starter for the rest of the season. Dillon Gabriel moved into a backup role when Deshaun Watson remained on the physically unable to perform list even after the team opened its 21-day practice window in December. Watson is still recovering from his latest Achilles injury.
Speaking at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Browns general manager Andrew Berry left the door open for Watson to compete with Sanders for the starting job next season.
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Cleveland Browns Executive Vice President, Football Operations & General Manager Andrew Berry looks on during OTA offseason practice at the CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 4, 2025 in Berea, Ohio. (Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
Berry cautioned that there is no rush to decide who will be QB1 when next season starts.
“We don’t have to make that decision any time soon,” he said. “I think any player we have in that space would expect to compete for a role. Those two would be no different.”
While Gabriel could be among the group competing for the starting spot, Berry previously indicated the team could look to add an experienced quarterback to the roster at some point this offseason.
Sanders took snaps with the designated second team for the majority of the Browns’ minicamp and training camp last year. He went 3-4 as a starter in 2025. Berry is optimistic that Sanders can continue to improve.
“I think the biggest thing we want to see from Shedeur is just continued growth,” Berry said. “I think he grew a lot from start 1 to start 7. I definitely think playing more efficiently, not putting the ball in harm’s way as much would be important, while maintaining the ability to produce outside of structure and create explosive plays.”
Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry speaks at the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on February 24, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
The Browns fired Kevin Stefanski in January and brought in Todd Monken, and Berry said he wants Sanders to get used to the new system.
“You’re not going to see all that in the coming months because we’re not on the field. So the biggest thing he can do is learn the new offense, get in with the coaching staff when our offseason program starts, continue to work on his body physically and then make strides when we actually get on the field.”
Watson has appeared in just 19 games in the three years since signing an unprecedented fully guaranteed $230 million contract with the Browns. Watson is reportedly owed $46 million next season and has the largest salary cap hit in the league in 2026.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson in action during the NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on October 13, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola, File)
Berry confirmed that Watson continues to work through the rehabilitation process. “Deshaun has worked really hard, he’s worked his tail off,” he said. “And like I said, we’re excited to go in mid-April with all of our players on the roster.”
The Browns went 5-12 last season.
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