The Cleveland Browns are rolling into Week 1 with **four** quarterbacks on their initial 53-man roster, and if that doesn’t scream “we have no idea what we’re doing,” I don’t know what does. Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, and rookie Taylen Green are all on the squad, and the whole situation feels less like a strategic masterplan and more like a massive shrug emoji from the coaching staff. Keeping four QBs right out of the gate is super rare these days, and honestly, it looks like a giant red flag for every single one of them.
Watson’s Rough Ride and a Week 1 Headache
Let’s just be real for a second: Deshaun Watson’s situation in Cleveland has been a train wreck. Remember him getting booed by his *own* fans? That was an ugly scene, and his comments afterwards definitely did not help. He tried to walk it back, but I’m not sure anything can fix the anger Browns fans have about being tied to what has to be one of the worst returns on investment in modern NFL history. Despite all that, new head coach Todd Monken is sticking with him; Watson beat out Sanders for the Week 1 starting job and will open the season on the road against the Jaguars. Then they head to the Buccaneers for Week 2. This feels less like confidence and more like they’re stuck. His contract means they can’t cut him, and frankly, the fact he’s starting is a harsh indictment of the rest of the quarterback depth chart. His chances of being back next season are almost nil, which just leaves you wondering what the heck they’re thinking long term.
The Rest of the QB Room: False Hope and Forgotten Men
Shedeur Sanders gave Browns fans a flicker of false hope when he actually outplayed Watson in the second preseason game. People thought maybe, just maybe, he could step up again. But let’s not forget his seven starts last season delivered more bad than good. While the team might have played a *bit* better with him than other QBs last year, he still couldn’t win the starting job this time around. It’s fair to wonder if this is his last season in Cleveland too. Then there’s Dillon Gabriel, their third-round pick from 2025. He seemed totally forgotten until he dropped a strong outing in the final preseason game against New England. That performance must’ve lit a fire, because suddenly he’s a factor. And Taylen Green, the rookie, showed enough in that same game that the Browns apparently feared losing him if they tried to stash him on the practice squad. Gabriel’s performance in the third preseason game was actually better than both Watson or Sanders in the first two, which completely muddies the water for who’d even step in if Watson falters.
So, here we are. Watson’s got two road games to prove he’s not a complete disaster before the Week 3 home opener against the Panthers. If he doesn’t play pretty darn well, how is Monken going to handle it? Can they endure more booing every single time their offense takes the field? Or is this whole “four quarterbacks” thing just a temporary insurance policy while they wait for the supposed bonanza of QB talent coming in the 2027 NFL Draft? This team is taking some serious risks, and it’s going to be wild to see how this plays out in the early part of the season.
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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