Following the bulk of the free agency period, Shedeur Sanders came away unscathed. The Cleveland Browns didn’t address the quarterback position with any notable signings, which should have Sanders feeling secure in the QB room ahead of the 2026 NFL season.

Sanders still has to get through the 2026 NFL Draft in order to feel fully comfortable. If Cleveland doesn’t spend a high pick on a signal-caller, it will be a sign that head coach Todd Monken and the Browns front office are somewhat sold on giving Sanders a full season to prove himself. But there’s one other person standing in his way at the moment.

Deshaun Watson, who sat out all of last season while recovering from a torn Achilles, is set to make his comeback in 2026. Given that his contract makes it so that he can’t really be traded or cut, Watson is Sanders’ main competition to be the team’s starting quarterback. And by the sound of it, he’s already leading the competition.

Deshaun Watson reportedly “in pole position” to be Browns’ starting quarterback in 2026

There have been rumors floating around this week that Watson has a leg up on Sanders in the competition. That notion was amplified by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo this weekend, with a report from him coming out that says he believes Watson is in “pole position” to be the team’s starter for Week 1.

It’s a tough blow for Sanders. Just when everything seemed to be breaking perfectly for him to keep his starting job, Watson comes out of nowhere to steal it. It will be up to Sanders to leave no doubt in Monken’s mind before the decision is made, with a strong training camp and preseason.

There’s still plenty of time for Sanders to make his mark and hold on to the starting quarterback position. But with Watson on his heels, Sanders can’t afford to also compete with a talented rookie if Cleveland drafts one.