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Daniel Oyefusi
INDIANAPOLIS — Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry did not give a timetable for a decision at starting quarterback but indicated that Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson will be among those competing to be the starter in 2026.
«We don’t have to make that decision anytime soon,» Berry said Tuesday at the NFL combine. «I think any player that we have in that room we would expect to compete to earn a role. Those two would be no different.»
New Browns coach Todd Monken previously did not commit to Sanders, who started the final seven games of the 2025 season, as the team’s starter when speaking at his introductory news conference. Berry also previously said that the Browns are expected to search the quarterback market for an addition this offseason.
When asked if there is a viable pathway to adding a veteran starter, Berry said it is «[to be determined].»
Sanders, the 144th overall pick in the 2025 draft, began his career as the No. 4 quarterback. The Browns held a QB competition last summer, but Sanders did not receive any starting reps in practice during training camp. As a starter, Sanders had a 3-4 record, including wins in the final two games of the season, but recorded the fifth-lowest QBR (18.9) among 696 quarterbacks with at least 200 attempts in the QBR era (since 2006).
«I think the biggest thing that we want to see from Shedeur is just continued growth,» Berry said. «I think he grew a lot from start one to start seven. I think certainly playing more efficiently, not putting the ball in harm’s way as much would be important while maintaining the ability to produce out of structure and generate explosive plays.
«You’re not going to see all of that in the upcoming months because we’re not on the field. So the biggest thing that he can do is learn the new offense, get in with the coaching staff once our offseason program starts, continue to work on his body physically and then make strides when we actually get on the grass.»
Watson is expected to be on the Browns’ roster in 2026 despite not playing this past season as he rehabbed the Achilles injury he suffered in October 2024. He has played in only 19 games since the Browns traded three first-round picks and gave him a fully guaranteed $230 million in March 2022. Since joining Cleveland, his 33.1 Total QBR would rank last in the league among qualifying passers.
Cleveland owes Watson $46 million in salary next season and he has an $80.7 million cap hit in 2026, the largest in the NFL, but it will likely be reduced via a restructure that gives the Browns more cap space in free agency.
«Deshaun’s been working really hard, he’s been working his tail off,» Berry said. «And like I said, we’re excited to go in mid-April with all of our players across the roster.»
Dillon Gabriel, a 2025 third-round pick who started six games as a rookie, is also under contract.
«He may be forgotten externally, but he’s not forgotten to us,» Berry said. «Look, Dillon, he’s working. He’s going to handle everything that’s within his control, and we love all of our players and our home roster. Dillon’s a guy that has a bright future in this league.»
