Browns GM: Starting QB up for grabs, includes Sanders, Watson - ESPN

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