The quarterback room in Berea has been a slow-burning drama for months now. Ever since the Cleveland Browns limped through inconsistency and injuries, the spotlight hasn’t left the QB depth chart. Add to that a massive guaranteed deal and a young prospect with swagger, and this thing was always going to get messy.
As the 2026 offseason unfolds, the narrative is tilting hard and not in favor of the guy most fans once trusted. The chatter is getting louder and a bit uncomfortable, especially for Deshaun Watson.
Anthony Lima’s Take Flips the Script on Shedeur Sanders vs. Deshaun Watson
Anthony Lima, the host of 92.3 The Fan, didn’t sugarcoat it. Lima claims that Shedeur Sanders was the biggest winner in the Browns locker room when he left free agency. It was because of what didn’t happen, not because of what did. There was no new quarterback. There is no safety net for veterans. There is no actual competition.
“For Shedeur Sanders, [free agency] was a massive win. Let’s face it, if they brought in Malik Willis, that would’ve been a big-time loss. It’s funny. Everybody naturally says it’s Deshaun Watson’s job to lose because they remember Deshaun Watson from five years ago. We’ve seen him more recently, and he’s not been good. They want Shedeur Sanders to win until further notice.”
That’s a reality check. The Browns passed on adding names like Malik Willis, who instead landed elsewhere. The front office poured resources into fixing the offensive line, quietly building a better environment for whoever wins the QB1 job. Lima and co-host Ken Carman see that as a signal. Not for Watson, but for Sanders. Sanders is leading the race.
Even insiders suggest Sanders has “runway” toward the starting job. That’s not hype but an organizational behavior.
Here’s where it gets uncomfortable for Watson. The 30-year-old quarterback hasn’t played a full, convincing stretch in years. Injuries, including a torn Achilles, have derailed him. His on-field production hasn’t matched the memory fans cling to. The Browns may still owe him big money, but money doesn’t win jobs in March.
Coach Prime’s son finished 2025 as the starter. He’s younger. and now, backed by a better offensive line.
The message is subtle but clear: this is no longer Watson’s team by default. It’s a competition right now. If you read between the lines, as Lima clearly does, Sanders is ahead. The Browns may be getting ready for a new leader. Whether they say it out loud or not.