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Should Shedeur Sanders stay the starting quarterback of the Browns after his stellar performance in Sunday's Week 9 23-22 overtime loss in New Orleans? With the controversy about to be reheated, let's hope offensive-minded head coach Todd Monken gives that strong consideration.
With Deshaun Watson in concussion protocol for most of the practice week leading up to the Saints game, Sanders replaced him, despite Watson being cleared and healthy enough to make the road trip. Monken also made Watson inactive behind Sanders, with Dillon Gabriel serving as the backup.
Sanders responded with a great all-around game. Although the score came one play short of going in the Browns' favor, thanks to a failed two-point attempt, there's no doubt Sanders was the better QB than fellow second-year QB Tyler Shough.
Sanders had his best passing stat line as a Brown (by far) in two seasons (19-of-31, 297 yards, 2 TDs, 8.5 yards per attempt, career-high 114.6 rating). He also rushed a career-high 10 times (by far) for 28 yards, often in key spots. He did all that despite getting the same kind of pressure (five sacks) that Watson has seen this season behind Cleveland's rocky protection.
This was the first time Sanders had extended playing time in Monken's system, and he immediately played better than Watson in any game this season, while also being relentless with his own brand of fourth-quarter comeback moxie.
Although the Browns still lost their second consecutive game to drop to 5-4 as the third-place team in the AFC North, here's a look at why Monken would be making a mistake if he doesn't keep starting Sanders, regardless of Watson's health going into Week 10 and beyond.
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Five reasons the Browns must stick with Shedeur Sanders
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Shedeur Sanders now gives the Browns a higher playmaking ceiling
Sanders, in Monken's offense, has eschewed much of the checkdown limitations he had in the more short-to-intermediate pass-oriented system under Kevin Stefanski. He feels more comfortable getting more opportunities to stretch the field, thanks to having two dynamic rookie wide receivers in KC, Concepcion and Denzel Boston.
Sanders threw to that downfield combination often instead of looking to last year's favorite target, now second-year tight end Harold Fannin Jr. Boston led the team with 6 catches for 91 yards, and Concepcion was a close second with 4-for-85, including his first career TD on a 64-yard catch-and-run off a big strike from Sanders.
When it came to crunch time in the fourth quarter and overtime, facing a bigger surge of pressure, Sanders played off that big-play effectiveness to make critical connections with veteran Jerry Jeudy and Fannin.
Sanders was locked in and accurate through all of his throws while also avoiding turnovers. His decision-making was much improved from his rookie play. He unlocked all of the passing game while getting only limited help from the running game, something Watson hasn't done as well all season.
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Deshaun Watson really hasn't been good despite the Browns' record
Watson has been credited with a game-winning drive in all of the Saints' wins. That total of five leads the league. Sanders almost made it 6-for-6 for the season, in less frantic fashion. Watson has been sloppier with the ball in extended sample size, averaging 7.3 yards per attempt and a 91.2 passer rating.
He also took 33 sacks in the first eight games, and it was inevitable that an oft-injured player would miss more time. Sanders was sacked five times, but stayed strong through taking the hits. Sanders' confidence has a different, less-cocky vibe. Watson has been a lot better than he was last season, but that's a low bar. When making the straight-up comparison with Sanders again, the offense hasn't had the consistent pop for which Monken is looking.
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The Browns need a long look at Shedeur Sanders before the 2027 draft
Cleveland is at a crossroads in its first season under Monken. The team should know by now that Watson cannot be the long-term QB solution, given his shaky second (or third?) chance.
The thought before the season was that whether it was Watson or Sanders, the Browns would still need to find their true franchise QB (at least try again) in next year's draft. Watson has had a good stretch with mixed results at best. Sanders' promising first start of the season screams that the Browns need to give him a fair, full evaluation in Monken's offense.
The Browns have a ton of needs and a lot of upcoming draft capital. For now, they would be making their first of two 2027 picks in the middle of the first round. At whatever level the Browns play under Monken the rest of the way, they won't necessarily be positioned to take one of the first three or four QB prospects on the board because of above. Sanders still might be the answer; he might not. The 2024 fourth-rounder deserves due diligence before the Browns dive back into the draft or go after a bridge veteran.
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Shedeur Sanders fits much better with the Browns' offensive youth movement
Sanders, Fannin and running backs Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson are in their second season. Concepcion, Boston and left tackle Spencer Fano are key rookies. There is no doubt Sanders' youthful familiarity with his peers helped him thrive in his first start under Monken. Watson has tried to develop those same connections, and there were some signs of it with Boston. But Sanders can stay more complete in deploying the mostly young weapons well. Sanders is locked in with Fannin in key moments and did a better job using Concepcion early than Watson has.
Experience is one thing, chemistry is another. Sanders has earned the right to allow him to vibe better with his peers and lead a team of them.
The Browns have no real reason to put Deshaun Watson back into the lineup
The Browns' playoff chances have dropped in consecutive weeks. They are still in the mix to grab one of the AFC's final two wild-card spots, but they are getting a little far behind the Steelers (6-2) and Bengals (6-2) in the North division race.
If the Browns are going with the quarterback who can best put them in position to win games, Sanders provided that answer. If the Browns are now more aware of their overachieving status, they should look more into their updated potential at the position.
With Watson not standing out at age 31, Sanders has at more appeal to finish out the season at 24. There shouldn't even be motivation to give Watson a shot at a "revenge game" against the Texans at home in Week 10. The Browns need to play the long game, looking at the second half of the season as a whole. They have little to lose, everything to gain by playing Sanders. Going back to Watson would be a delayed lame-duck situation, just like it had been all season before Week 9.
The Watson chapter has been forgettable, and the Browns have a great opportunity to once again turn the page from their mistake by going full speed ahead with Sanders, for better or worse.
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