New NFL Rumors on Browns' 2026 Draft Plans Ahead of QB1 Duel Between Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson

The Cleveland Browns could choose not to select a quarterback early in the 2026 NFL draft and have Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson battle for the team's starting signal-caller job next season, according to NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe.

"The Browns have two first-round picks, at six and 24. My understanding is they're more likely to use those picks to supplement the offense," Wolfe reported Friday (0:48 mark). "Keep an eye on them at wide receiver and left tackle at those spots. Maybe they wait another year for quarterback and allow these two guys, Shedeur and Deshaun Watson, to be able to show what they've got with a new head coach."

Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com previously reported that the Browns were poised to hold a training camp competition between Sanders and Watson, while reserve quarterback Dillon Gabriel also remains on their roster.

Considering Cleveland is outside the projected draft range of a top passer such as Indiana's Fernando Mendoza, it's understandable that the team may not be willing to reach for a quarterback for new head coach Todd Monken to work with.

The Browns were projected to select Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling with the No. 6 pick and Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion with the No. 24 selection in the latest mock draft from Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department.

Watson could earn Cleveland's starting quarterback role after he was sidelined during the 2025 season while recovering from Achilles surgery.

As for Sanders, he appeared in eight games during his rookie campaign. The 2025 fifth-round pick completed 56.6 percent of his throws for 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns to go along with 10 interceptions.