Deshaun Watson hasn’t taken an NFL snap since 2024, literally sitting out all of 2025, yet one analyst still believes he’s the guy to start for the Browns once training camp heats up. Tony Grossi, who covers the Browns for ESPN Cleveland, laid it all out: he thinks Watson will emerge as the starter, provided he’s healthy, because they apparently view his ceiling as higher than rookie Shedeur Sanders’.
One Analyst Says Watson’s Job to Lose. The Rookie Numbers Back Him Up.
Grossi wasn’t shy about his take, telling NFL content creator JaKi that he just doesn’t expect the quarterback competition to be the defining story for the Browns this season. He’s looking way down the line, saying the “most important stuff doesn’t concern the quarterback position.” Instead, Grossi is focused on developing young players and laying the foundation for a “really good Browns team” by 2027. So, for him, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
But when pushed on who starts this year, Grossi’s answer was crystal clear: Watson. And honestly, Sanders’ numbers from his rookie 2025 season don’t make it easy to argue against that verdict. In seven starts, he completed 56.6% of his throws for 1,400 yards, tossed seven touchdowns, and got picked off 10 times. Those aren’t exactly “leapfrog the veteran” stats, are they?
Beyond the Stats: Sanders Is Showing Up for the Community, Not the Drama.
Here’s the cool part: Shedeur isn’t just sitting around waiting for the pads to come on. The weekend before veterans report on July 28, he organized a free football camp at Brooklyn Memorial Stadium for over 500 kids, all under the “Browns Give Back” banner. You gotta respect that.
He and Watson have even been working together, getting in voluntary skill-position practices in Miami to build chemistry before the official Berea sessions. Watson himself said those Miami workouts are crucial for building an offense’s cohesiveness that’ll last the whole regular season. Sanders mirrors that vibe, saying they’re “both trying to be the best version of ourselves we could be” and there’s a “level of respect that we all in the quarterback room have for each other.” He’s all about focusing on what they can control, “getting better in work every day.” It’s refreshing to see a player, especially a young guy, so focused on the community and improvement rather than getting caught up in contract drama or competitive anxiety.
Rookies report Thursday, with the veterans following on July 28. When those pads finally come on in the second week of camp, we’ll see if Shedeur can truly surprise everyone and snatch that starting gig. Until then, it looks like Watson’s spot to lose.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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