May the best man win, they say, but for the Cleveland Browns, this is barely just a philosophy. It is the very thing that will decide the future of the team. After all, this is the second straight season that the Browns’ quarterbacks will fight for the QB1 position, this time under first-year head coach Todd Monken. No wonder Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders split first-team reps, while Dillon Gabriel is on the fringe, waiting for his own opportunity.
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While there is uncertainty among the players and fans, Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry knows what’s going to happen ahead. And it all goes back to the ‘May the best man win’ philosophy, but for the quarterbacks, it is like an ultimatum.
“In terms of the whole quarterback of the future discussion, ultimately, we’re going to play the player who is the most productive on the field,” Berry said in his latest presser. “There’s no need to make any decisions about the future right now. And we’ll let it play out and figure out as we go.”
Per Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot, Berry has also noted that he feels “confident” that the Browns will have their starting quarterback named by Week 1 of the regular season. But before that happens, both quarterbacks have to make splashes at training camp and the preseason.
To that effect, Deshaun Watson is off to a rocky start. On Wednesday, July 29, Watson threw back-to-back picks in the first full-speed team drills. The first pick came from veteran cornerback Denzel Ward, who signed a two-year, $62.2 million extension just the day before. The second came from fellow cornerback Damarri Mathis, who made a sliding pick as Watson tried to make a play while escaping pressure.
Having stayed away from the game since October 2024, Watson has been struggling with accuracy. Plus, let us not forget he was away from the sport due to his twice-torn right Achilles tendon. That said, he has a lot to prove. After all, he needs to revive his career and also prove that his five-year, $230 million contract with the Browns was worth it.
Sanders, on the other hand, is not making things easier for Watson.
Head coach Todd Monken had already said before that Sanders needed to work on his speed. To that effect, Sanders looked reasonably better as he worked on quick passes and checkdowns. He also connected with rookie wide receiver KC Concepcion in a skillfully placed deep ball. And as for Andrew Berry’s thoughts, even coach Monken has said something very similar.
Coach Monken sings the same tune
Monken said on Wednesday:
“The easiest way for me to say that – and it still won’t stop you from asking – is the first game. We’re gonna have to have a starter the first game, right? Ultimately, I’m not going to decide who the starter is. They decide by their play. Their play decides who the starter is.”
Now, this is just the beginning of the camp. Both QBs will get plenty of first-team reps to improve themselves. Deshaun Watson entering the final year of his $230 million contract complicates things for the Browns financially if they’re looking for a return on their investment this year. But judging by how camp started, Shedeur Sanders appears to be trending upwards, and Watson needs to match up soon to keep his name in the running.
But what about Gabriel?
The door is still ajar for Dillon Gabriel
While Gabriel has largely worked behind Watson and Sanders on the depth chart, he has been quietly making the most of every opportunity. According to Monken, the young quarterback has steadily earned greater responsibility with his performances. That progress was evident during Monday’s practice, when Gabriel was rewarded with an increased share of reps.
Monken went ahead and said:
“It’s up to the player to take advantage and maximize those reps, which I feel like Dillon has done. So we’ll see as we move forward. If that continues, we’ll continue to up his reps. I mean, he’s earned that.”
So, while Gabriel hasn’t been ruled out of the QB1 conversation, the road ahead remains steep. Every rep will have to be earned. And the challenge doesn’t end there. The Browns also added Taylen Green in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Though viewed as a developmental prospect, his arrival adds another layer to an already crowded quarterback room, making Gabriel’s path to the starting job even more complicated.
Cleveland could possibly move Gabriel or Green to the practice squad. That said, Berry has not ruled out keeping all four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster.