Deshaun Watson has seemingly run away with the starting job in Cleveland. After opening training camp in a legitimate quarterback competition with Shedeur Sanders, Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken named Watson the starter for Week 1. Through three weeks, he has the team above .500 and has kept Cleveland in the fight every game.
Things could still change, but the energy around Watson appears to have shifted over the last month. So what does that mean for Sanders? According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Browns "would probably welcome a deal at the right price" for one of their backup quarterbacks.
That could include Dillon Gabriel, but he's currently on injured reserve with a lower back sprain, and Sanders' trade value is likely much higher at this point. More news: Justin Herbert Under Fire as Jim Harbaugh Demands He ‘Be Better’ Sanders slid to the fifth round of the 2025 draft and didn't make his first NFL start until Week 12 against the Las Vegas Raiders, a game Cleveland won 24-10. His rookie season had its ups and downs, but he still went 3-4 as a starter for a Browns team that finished 5-12.
At just 24 years old, Sanders still offers plenty of upside and would be an inexpensive addition with multiple years remaining on his rookie contract. More news: Giants Face Harsh Backlash After Trading for Quarterback JJ McCarthy More news: ESPN Analyst Sends Message About Caleb Williams After Bears Rout Eagles It's difficult to know what Cleveland considers "the right price," and Fowler's report could simply be an attempt to generate more leverage in trade talks. But the New York Giants recently sent a fifth-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings for J.J.
McCarthy, showing that teams can still pay a Day 3 price for a quarterback they believe has starting potential. Sanders could potentially fetch a similar return. Ultimately, it may come down to how desperate teams become as the Nov. 10 trade deadline approaches.
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