Analyst Predicts Shedeur Sanders as Browns' 2026 Starting QB

ESPN's Kevin Clark believes the Browns should let Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel compete for the starting job, excluding Deshaun Watson.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 12:05am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a Browns football game, with sharp planes of brown, orange, and white overlapping to create a dynamic, multi-perspective scene.A cubist interpretation of the Browns' quarterback competition captures the complex dynamics at play as the team evaluates its options for the future.Cleveland Today

The Cleveland Browns have a crowded quarterback room with Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, and Deshaun Watson. ESPN analyst Kevin Clark believes the Browns should let Sanders and Gabriel compete for the starting job in 2026, excluding Watson. Clark thinks Sanders has the most upside and should be given the chance to prove himself as the team's starter that season.

Why it matters

The Browns' quarterback situation is a major storyline, as the team tries to determine its long-term answer at the position. Excluding the embattled Watson from the competition could allow younger talents like Sanders and Gabriel to emerge and potentially solidify themselves as the future of the franchise.

The details

Clark believes the Browns should let Sanders and Gabriel battle it out for the starting job in 2026, rather than including Watson in the competition. Sanders took over as the starter for the final games of the 2025 season and showed promise, leading Clark to think he has the most upside of the three quarterbacks.

  • Sanders took over as the Browns' starting quarterback for the final games of the 2025 season.
  • The 2026 NFL season is set to kick off in September 2026.

The players

Shedeur Sanders

A young quarterback for the Cleveland Browns who took over as the starter for the final games of the 2025 season.

Dillon Gabriel

A quarterback for the Cleveland Browns who is competing with Shedeur Sanders for the starting job in 2026.

Deshaun Watson

The veteran quarterback for the Cleveland Browns who is also in the team's quarterback room but may not be included in the 2026 starting competition according to the analyst.

Kevin Clark

An ESPN analyst who believes the Browns should let Sanders and Gabriel compete for the 2026 starting quarterback job, excluding Watson.

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What they’re saying

“Yeah, absolutely. I wouldn't bring anybody else into that room, I would not include Deshaun Watson in this quarterback competition. I think it should be Dillon Gabriel vs. Shedeur in camp. Maybe he's not your franchise guy for the next 10 years, but in 2026, let's see what he can do.”

— Kevin Clark, ESPN Analyst

What’s next

The Browns will need to make a decision on their 2026 starting quarterback in the coming months, as the 2026 NFL season approaches.

The takeaway

The Browns' quarterback situation is a key storyline heading into the 2026 season, as the team tries to determine its long-term answer at the position. Excluding the embattled Watson from the competition could allow younger talents like Sanders and Gabriel to emerge and potentially solidify themselves as the future of the franchise.