The Cleveland Browns are preparing for a quarterback situation that has left some observers surprised, with Deshaun Watson locked in as the starter and questions lingering about the rest of the depth chart.
Team officials confirmed the decision to go with Watson under center for the upcoming season, a move that caught attention given the presence of multiple young options on the roster. Cleveland currently lists four quarterbacks, creating a crowded group that will force difficult choices before the final cuts.
Shedeur Sanders is expected to serve as the primary backup behind Watson. That leaves Dillon Gabriel in a more uncertain position as the team evaluates how to manage its active roster spots.
ESPN analyst Daniel Oyefusi has projected that the Browns will take the unusual step of retaining all four quarterbacks when they set their 53-man roster. Such a decision would stand out in a league where teams rarely dedicate that many spots to the position.
“Keeping four quarterbacks on an active roster is unheard of in the NFL,” Oyefusi wrote. “However, Cleveland is effectively using Green’s rookie season as a redshirt year. And between Watson’s struggles, injury history and the reception from the home crowd in the second preseason game — he was met with loud boos — the Browns might opt to keep Gabriel on the 53-man roster as another backup option.”
The idea of carrying four signal-callers has drawn mixed reactions. Some see it as a cautious approach that protects the team against injury or inconsistency at the most important position. Others view it as an inefficient use of a valuable roster slot that could otherwise go to a contributor on offense or defense.
One potential path forward involves exploring trade options for Gabriel. A deal that brings back a mid-round draft selection could ease the numbers crunch while still providing the Browns with future assets.
Watson’s recent experiences with the home crowd have added another layer to the conversation. During the preseason contest against the Buffalo Bills, fans directed boos at the veteran while he was on the field.
After that game, Watson addressed the reaction directly.
“The only time I feel that energy is when I’m in the stadium or it’s on social media,” Watson said. “Like I mentioned before, when I’m in public, no one’s mentioning anything. So I think that’s the only time those people who are holding it in is trying to disrupt the energy. Because on social media, players can’t respond back and in the stadium, players can’t respond back.
“So, I get it, I understand it. It is what it is. . . . I don’t know. It’s a mental battle every day. I feel like I get more love on road games than I do at home games. So if it is my spot and [coach Todd Monken] does make me the starter, maybe it’s 17 away games, then. I don’t know.”
Those comments underscored the tension that has surrounded Watson’s return to the lineup. With the starting job now officially his, the same fan base that voiced its displeasure is expected to continue expressing its views once the regular season begins.
Head coach Todd Monken made clear that the crowd’s reaction would not dictate his choice at quarterback. Before the final decision was announced, Monken spoke positively about both Watson and Sanders while emphasizing performance over outside noise.
“I’m not concerned about the first home game. I’m concerned about who will give us the best chance to win the first week. We’ll get to that when we get to it. My reaction was, a young man who has worked awfully hard to get back to where he is now, and he wants to, in the worst way, to play winning football for the Browns organization and the fans,” Monken said.
“It didn’t go as we had hoped or as he did, I’m sure. I think we have to be a little careful of judging someone right after he goes out to play, feeling like he’s put in the work, and then to not perform as well as he wanted. We all want to be appreciated. He spoke from the heart, and I don’t ever blame someone that speaks from the heart. If someone were to ask if I feel like he doesn’t have confidence, I don’t see that. Every day I see a young man who has confidence, and he wanted to perform in the worst way at a high level.”
Monken’s comments reflected a focus on preparation and opportunity rather than public sentiment. He described Watson as someone who has put in significant work and maintains a strong desire to succeed for the organization and its supporters.
The Browns will open the regular season on Sept. 13 when they face the Jacksonville Jaguars. That contest will mark the first true test of the quarterback arrangement and the overall roster decisions that follow the final cuts.
As training camp and the preseason wind down, Cleveland must balance short-term readiness with longer-term planning. Keeping extra depth at quarterback could provide insurance, yet it also highlights the delicate calculations every NFL team faces when trimming the roster to 53 players.
Watson’s status as the starter sets a clear hierarchy for now, but the presence of Sanders and the unresolved situation involving Gabriel ensure that the position group will remain a topic of discussion in the weeks ahead.
Fans, analysts and the coaching staff will all be watching closely to see how the final decisions unfold and how the group performs once the games begin to count.
