Sanders has 'narrowed the gap' on Watson in Browns QB battle

Todd Monken still hasn't made up his mind about which quarterback will lead his offense in 2026, and by the sound of things, he might not for a while yet.

The new Cleveland Browns head coach had hoped to name a starter before now, but he could push the decision until the pads come on.

The reason, according to one NFL insider, is that Shedeur Sanders has been eating into Deshaun Watson's lead.

Has Sanders narrowed the gap in the QB battle?

Sanders led the starting unit on Tuesday, taking all the first-team reps in 11-on-11 work while Watson ran with the second string.

After finding his way onto the field for seven starts last year, things didn't always go smoothly for Sanders, and many have wondered whether he can push on in year two.

And once Monken opened the door to the possibility that Watson could start, Sanders' doubters were out in full force.

Veteran Deshaun Watson looked to have the edge a few weeks ago, but according to Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the picture has shifted.

"It appeared for much of the offseason program that Deshaun Watson had the edge over Sanders based on his superior athleticism and experience," she said.

"Sanders seemed to have narrowed the gap the past couple of weeks with his grasp of the playbook and increased efficiency in practice."

Sanders' camp highlights back up Cabot's words.

Monken intends to hand Watson more first-team reps today, but Sanders' early showing will surely give him food for thought beyond this week.

Was it Monken's plan all along to push Sanders by declaring there would be a quarterback competition? Remember, it shocked some NFL insiders to learn that Watson - warts and all - was ever in the running.

What a Browns teammate thinks of Sanders

Cornerback Tyson Campbell has watched Sanders up close since arriving in Cleveland during the 2025 season, which gives his read on the quarterback some weight.

Nick Cammett / Stringer

Asked about Sanders' development at minicamp, Campbell sounded all-in.

"Oh yeah, from the point I got to the Browns during that season all the way to now, you can see the growth big time," Campbell said. "The way he carries himself, the way he practices.

"You could tell he's being even more of a pro than he was last year and he's getting better and he's getting more comfortable in the offense and he's been making plays."

On the competition itself, Campbell was equally positive about both quarterbacks.

"Oh, it's been great, man. They've been playing their butts off. You can tell how they're getting comfortable in the offense and adding their little touches to it.

"They're two different quarterbacks, but it's been fun to see. You could tell Deshaun's been a great leader, and Shedeur is soaking up all the knowledge he can from Deshaun.

"So, they're both helping each other out and I believe iron sharpens iron."

Monken "not there yet" on QB decision

This is the biggest call of Monken's early tenure in Cleveland, and it's imperative that he gets it right.

He says he would have "loved to have made that decision," but admitted that he's "not there yet."

Starting Watson because of his contract and experience is one argument, but his off-field concerns have made him a divisive figure, and there's no guarantee he can ever get back to his 2020 best.

Starting Sanders because of his long-term upside is another, and seemingly the one the Cleveland fanbase would prefer.

If the choice was simple, Monken would have made it already. Unless, of course, he's simply trying to get the best out of Sanders by not simply handing him the keys.