Deshaun Watson’s concussion has put Cleveland’s quarterback room back in the spotlight, but for now there’s no real mystery about who sits at the top of it.
Todd Monken made that plain Wednesday when asked about Watson and the possibility that Shedeur Sanders could start in Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints.
“Yeah, he’s been our starter for eight games,” Monken said of Watson on Wednesday. “I would assume he’s still our starter. I’m really thinking about today and watching Shedeur [in practice].”
That still hasn’t stopped the speculation from building, especially with the Nov. 10 trade deadline getting closer and Sanders recently hiring an agent. Lamar Jackson’s potentially season-ending injury only added more fuel, and it didn’t take long for people to start wondering whether Cleveland could be pulled into another quarterback deal.
The answer, at least on paper, should be no. Andrew Berry already helped a divisional rival at quarterback last season, and it’s hard to imagine the Browns doing that twice in a row.
The Ravens, though, are the team that keeps popping up in the conversation.
According to multiple reports, Baltimore wanted to draft Sanders. His camp asked the Ravens not to take him because he would have had no path to starting over Lamar Jackson. That door was closed then, but the situation around Baltimore has changed enough to make people look twice.
The Ravens have a new coaching staff, but Eric DeCosta is still running the front office. They’re sitting at .500, their playoff hopes are still alive, and the idea of trying to pry a quarterback loose before the deadline is not exactly far-fetched after what Cincinnati did last season.
Still, this is not the same setup Cleveland dealt with a year ago. The Browns have four quarterbacks, and they probably need to move one before the deadline.
At the same time, they are not eager to part with any of the younger ones. Joe Flacco was unplayable in Cleveland last season, and Sanders, Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green are all on cheap rookie deals with at least some upside attached.
That’s why the Ravens’ interest, if they go down that road, would be complicated. They’re also reportedly courting Jacoby Brissett, which only adds another layer to the noise.
For his part, Sanders has done everything Cleveland could reasonably ask. He has been steady, team-first and careful not to become a distraction since arriving. Deion Sanders has kept his distance from the drama too, staying in his lane and avoiding the kind of public blowups that could make this situation even messier.
If Sanders ever became available, it would likely take some unwanted noise from his side to push Cleveland toward a move. That would be a bad idea for him and his camp, especially given the baggage and skepticism that followed him into the league.
The irony is hard to miss. Sanders could have been drafted by Baltimore last year.
If that had happened, he might be the one stepping in now with Lamar Jackson on injured reserve because of a thumb injury. With Jackson’s future uncertain, Sanders could even have been positioned as a possible successor.
Instead, he ended up losing a quarterback battle to Deshaun Watson and may have to make his case as a backup. If he does get the expected start against the Saints, Cleveland will be hoping he makes it count enough to earn more chances before the season runs out.
In Other News...
Browns Deadline Debate Now Centers On Two Starters They Could Move
As the Nov. 10 trade deadline approaches, the Browns are still weighing whether to act like buyers or sellers, and the conversation inside the building has centered on two very different needs. Quarterback help remains on the radar, along with possible upgrades on the offensive line, but any move will have to fit a roster that is still trying to sort out which pieces are part of the long-term plan.
Jerry Jeudy has emerged as a logical name to watch because of the inconsistency in his production and the salary attached to him, while slot cornerback Harden has stayed in the starting lineup even as his play has lagged behind. He has also been targeted enough to post an ugly passer rating against, which only adds to the sense that Cleveland could be forced to make some uncomfortable decisions if it wants to reshape the roster before the deadline. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Slow Starts Keep Making Their Biggest Problems Even Worse
The Browns latest loss to Pittsburgh only sharpened a problem that has been hanging over them for weeks. In a 27-6 defeat, Cleveland again struggled to run the ball and to slow the run on the other side, leaving the offense in obvious catch-up mode before it ever had a chance to settle in. Head coach Todd Monken pointed to the same issue afterward, saying falling behind early has made it harder for the team to do the things it needs to do well, from protecting the quarterback to getting after the passer.
It has become a familiar and costly pattern for Cleveland, which has been outscored badly in the first quarter this season. And the timing could make the next stretch even trickier, with Shedeur Sanders potentially in line to start if Deshaun Watson remains in concussion protocol. For a team already fighting to find balance, the margin for another slow opening is getting thinner by the week. [Read more 🡒]
Jared Verse Is Forcing A Browns Decision Sooner Than Expected
Jared Verses first eight games with the Browns have not produced the kind of pass-rush impact the team expected when it added him, and the numbers have only sharpened the conversation around his role. He still has not recorded a sack, and both his pressure rate and pass-rush win rate sit near the bottom among qualifying players, even as Verse has pointed to limited chances in obvious passing situations as part of the explanation.
The timing matters because Cleveland is already staring at bigger roster questions, including whether to pursue another pass rusher before the trade deadline and how to handle Verses contract extension. Daniel Oyefusi noted that the Browns have also been dealing with opponents facing a high average conversion distance, which adds another layer to the evaluation, while Verses recent comments on and off the field have drawn mixed reactions as the organization weighs what comes next. [Read more 🡒]