Shedeur Sanders will begin the season as the Cleveland Browns’ backup quarterback after losing a training camp battle to Deshaun Watson, and Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt says the former Colorado standout may ultimately need a change of scenery to reach his potential.
Klatt made the comments while appearing on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd.” He argued Sanders has the tools to become a successful NFL starter but questioned whether that will happen with the Browns.
“He was, at minimum, the second-best quarterback in that class. Maybe the top quarterback if you just look at the football,” Klatt said. “In a lot of our estimation, he was in the conversation in the top five of the draft — maybe even the top overall pick. His play warranted that.”
Sanders instead fell to the fifth round and was selected 144th overall by Cleveland. He started seven games as a rookie. Klatt still likes his long-term outlook, just not necessarily in this organization.
“In the NFL, you have to own the game from the pocket, anticipate, be accurate and tough. He’s all of those things,” Klatt said. “I still believe he’s going to work out. Somewhere, someplace. And it may not be in Cleveland. As we’ve seen with Darnold, Mayfield and others. You just might need to leave Cleveland. That place historically has been a dumpster fire when it comes to quarterback play.”
Coach Todd Monken named Watson the Week 1 starter after a competition that lasted through the first two preseason games. Monken said Watson held the edge for most of the offseason, though Sanders made the call closer than expected.
“Ultimately, we felt over the course of training camp and the offseason that he was ahead of Shedeur,” Monken said. “Shedeur closed that gap, for sure, and that’s a credit to him, and we look forward to Shedeur continuing to grow as a player.”
Monken added: “It was close. Both guys competing their rear ends off, and it is a hard decision. I feel really good about both quarterbacks. I do.”
Sanders’ rookie year was mixed. He played eight games, started seven and finished 3-4. He completed 56.6 percent of his passes for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also ran for 169 yards and one score.
The Browns leaned on Watson’s experience with two difficult road games to open the schedule against Jacksonville and Tampa Bay.
“Ultimately, it felt like to start the season on the road, Deshaun gave us the best chance to move the ball and score points,” Monken said.
Watson’s availability remains a concern. He has appeared in only 19 games since arriving in Cleveland in 2022, going 9-10 with 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He missed time with a suspension, a shoulder injury and two Achilles tears, including a re-rupture that cost him all of last season.
Cleveland sent three first-round picks to Houston for Watson and signed him to a fully guaranteed $230 million deal. Monken said the starting job is not a week-to-week decision and that the team expects Watson to play well.
The Browns open on the road before hosting Carolina in Week 3. An 0-2 start with a sputtering offense would likely increase pressure to give Sanders another look, even if Watson stays healthy.
Klatt’s point was straightforward: Sanders has the traits. The question is whether Cleveland is the right place for them to show up.
