DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Watson vs Sanders?

Yes he has a chance. How much of a chance ??? That's all up to Monken and unfortunately due to health reasons I have not been in Berea the last two months.

Well I hope you get back on your feet in double quick time ... football and QB's can take a second row seat behind health and wellbeing.

I agree bone...

I don't see any separation between the QBs and frankly, that isn't a good thing for us.

The "highlight" of yesterdays practice was Shedeur to Bond deep.. The crowd was cheering on the clips and the x-verse was going mad over SS saying it's times like that it proves he should be starting, others saying perfect strike from SS, etc... It was a circus catch from Bond. He had two steps on the defender, it should have been a TD if the ball was timed properly. GREAT catch by Bond.

STILL hoping SS becomes the man magically, I just don't have a ton of faith.

I agree also. Every year about the end of July I start looking forward to football season not just the pros but College also. I’ve always liked College football 🏈 and this year I’ll be watching more intently because of the many QB’s that potentially could be drafted next April. I’m very excited about our young players to see how they develop. However, I realistically don’t think we can win more than 5-7 games with our QB situation and our OL. Maybe if everything comes together ahead of schedule and we get competent QB play well you never know but I wouldn’t bet on it.

feel better soon GM!

There's a lot of dynamics at play....

And your point here is the same one I made a week or so ago - there is no future here with DW. If he **might** win you two more games during a losing season, why play him?

The counter points are: [1] losing is never good and not putting the team in the best position to win is never good - even if that differential is slim. [2] If Sanders or Gabriel can't beat out a bad/below average QB like Watson - the chances of them having a long term future here (other than as backup) is also really slim, so it's not like you are grooming them for success if they play [3] As was pointed out - Monken gives me the impression he is going to do everything to win every game no matter what - I wouldn't want to change that even if it means playing a scumbag QB who I despise.

What if....

Watson comes out and looks just a tad above average, but we win games on lucky breaks, timely plays and great defense. What if that leads to a solid first half record?

Could that actually be a worst-case scenario?


Put me firmly on the list of those that see absolutely no upside in starting Watson.

Watson playing above average (I'm going to assume you mean for longer than 2 quarters)? Let's cross that bridge when/if we get to it.


Yes, I do think that is our worst-case scenario.

If that leads us to 8-9 wins, Rams go deep into the playoffs and thus both 1st rounders might not get us to a spot to draft a QB early.....possibly yes. Especially if the FO has already come to the conclusion that Watson will never be in their future plans.

I don't know if I agree with the idea there is no upside in starting Watson. He is only 30. In QB years that is still pretty young. We've seen the ceiling of him being a superstar from 5 years ago, but successive injuries probably limit that ceiling, although that's not what Monken believes. I think people not wanting to see team success in Watson starting is based on his off the field issues from 2022 and I get that. I'm trying to carve that out in my thinking and keep it to field performance. We see QB revivals all the time if the system is right....see Darnold in 2025.

What it all comes down to for me really re: Watson, is (1)if the offense Stefanski ran for Watson (for all QBs, really) was that bad, (2) can he get back the athleticism he once had and (3) can Monken get the best out of him using his legs and not making the offense (early on) too complicated. I think this was an issue for all of them last year.

I should clarify... I mean first half of the season.

I do see ONE upside to starting the season with Watson.

SS is like a rookie all over again. Last year he didn’t have a preseason, he was this years Green not getting reps.

This year he is getting reps, but with an all new coaching staff and offense to implement.

Starting Watson could allow SS to get up to speed with Monken’s offense before he inevitably does come in for either a really bad or injured Watson at some point in the season. For a second year 5th round QB, odds of success would probably increase if he had a handful of games learning from the sidelines.

I've read that back up QB's don't usually get reps with the 1st team offense in the NFL - since Sanders was 3rd string last year at the beginning of the season ... did that mean he didn't get any reps or just not 1st team reps? Obviously the comparison is Baker who had no 1st team reps even though he was the 1st overall pick and heir apparent.

I guess my thoughts are that if Sanders or Gabriel are going to improve (hopefully become better than a mediocre Watson) -- then the progress is going to be due to a year of NFL exposure and experience, not because of additional reps at the beginning of season 2? Does that make sense?

I believe Todd Monken wants to win. He is preparing his team to win and will play the QB that he feels gives his team the best chance to win. If that is Watson, then that will last until results prove otherwise. Then it will be what do we have in Sanders. As for Andrew Berry he has been setting the team up best he can for a QB in 2027. He has multiple 1sts round picks; he has in future years multiple 2nd round picks. If he thinks this team is a QB away from contending he will put together a formidable package to get up to get 1 of the coveted QB's if the teams own pick does not put them in that spot. That is unless a QB already on the roster proves to him otherwise. Not likely but possible. I think the only QB on the roster that has spot on this team in the future is Dillon Gabriel. He was drafted in the 3rd round, the FO likes him, they really like his knowledge for the game, see him as an asset when they do find their QB of the future to have someone that understands what the coach and offense wants to do and can lead in the film and meeting room. They see him as a long-term backup QB. That is why the starter competition is between their highly paid investment QB that they cannot release due to the cap hit and their low-risk possible high reward past 5th round draft pick. If neither show enough this season to be the long-term franchise QB they will both not be on the team next season. If the Browns could afford it cap wise Watson would not be on the team now. No way will they bring a new highly drafted 1st round QB in next year with Sanders and his following still on the team. 2027 will look like this 1) Watson or Sanders 2) Gabriel 3) Green or another developmental QB or 1) 1st round draft pick 2) Gabriel 3) Green or another developmental QB.

There is yet another possible upside. Two of the teams best WR's are rookies. The OL is a new group that will need time to gel together. The beginning of the season would be the time these things have not yet been fully worked out. Allowing Sanders to wait not only helps give him time to learn the new system as you mentioned, it also gives the rest of the team time to adjust to it so you wouldn't be throwing Sanders to the wolves while the rest of the O is still rough around the edges in a new system.

By the time Sanders would start, not only would be be more familiar and hopefully more comfortable in it, so would the rest of the O players.

I'm just considering which scenario would give SS the best chance to succeed. I think allowing watson to take the lumps as this O and OL come together instead of shell shocking Sanders right out of the gate may be the best case scenario for Sanders. And God knows I don't even want to see watson on the field, or sideline for that matter in a Browns uniform. But I had to put all of that aside to consider the options. And on a personal level I don't think SS will ever be a franchise QB under any circumstances.

How about this scenario? Watson starts and plays "well" (don't ask me to define well right now, it's just a word I am using to make a point) The Brown have a slightly winning record half way through, then Watson gets hurts, his appendix burst, he catches diphtheria etc. and SS then starts. If he plays OK, but worse than Watson, do we know he isn't the answer? His supporters can't claim the talent around him isn't good enough or playcalling etc.

Will this confirm the need to draft someone else, or even a FA? Or do we need to have 25 games from SS before we look elsewhere?

Yes, because Watson is a 1 and done in terms of a season(s) remaining in Cleveland. No (s) needed. No plural. He is gone, or retired.

Watson probably isn't the future, but things could change that. If he plays and has a great season I don't think we would simply let him walk without trying to sign him. The odds say that won't happen, but I wouldn't say he isn't the future as an absolute.

I agree and have been saying much the same. We will draft a new QB unless SS wows us. If we do draft a QB he will be the guy for the next 3 years. There might be a competition in name only because you don't draft a QB #1 and not play him soon in to his career unless he is sitting behind a Aaron Rogers, which we don't have.

So, who make the best back-up for the team? SS or DG? I go DG every day of the week. SS on the bench would cause distractions. SS has a cult following which would be unbearable. I'd trade him for a 2030 6th rounder if that was the best I could get.