Deshaun Watson Favored at -174 Over Shedeur Sanders for Browns
deshaun watson is the favorite to open the season as the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback, with FanDuel listing him at -174 over Shedeur Sanders at +136. That gives Watson an implied probability of 63.5% to take the first snap, while Sanders now has to overcome the betting market after taking over late last season.
Watson’s position on the roster is a direct shift from a year ago, when Sanders stepped in and led the Browns to a 3-4 record as the starter in the second half of the 2025 NFL season. Cleveland still has not settled the job, but the odds now point back toward the veteran quarterback who signed a five-year, $230 million deal in 2022.
Watson's 2022 contract
The Browns’ quarterback picture still revolves around Watson’s contract and health. He missed the entire 2025 season with a ruptured Achilles tendon, but he is reportedly healthy enough to return this season and is expected to compete for the role in training camp.
That makes this summer different from a standard competition. Cleveland is weighing a veteran with a massive investment against Sanders, who did enough in his run as starter to stay in the conversation after Watson’s injury wiped out his season.
Sanders' 2025 numbers
Sanders finished last season with a 3-4 record, completing 56.6% of his passes. He threw seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions, enough production to keep him in the race but not enough to push Watson out of the picture in the betting market.
Watson’s Cleveland resume remains the counterweight. In four seasons with the Browns, he has played 19 games, gone 9-10, completed 61.2% of his passes, and thrown 19 touchdowns with 12 interceptions. The gap in the odds also stretches beyond Sanders: Dillon Gabriel is at +5500, and Browns sixth-round pick Taylen Green is listed among the candidates for the first snap of the season.
Browns quarterback battle
That leaves Cleveland with a quarterback battle that has not been settled on paper or by odds. Watson has the favorite’s tag, Sanders has the more recent starting experience, and the Browns will sort out the first snap in training camp.
