Browns general manager Andrew Barry addressed assembled media Tuesday at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine and said that Deshaun Watson will be in the quarterback competition this season with Shedeur Sanders.
"I think any player on our roster we would want to compete. We believe in competition at every spot," Berry said. "That's no different than quarterback. Deshaun's been working really hard. He's been working his tail off. Like I said, we're excited to go into April with all of our players across the roster because competition is something that we really believe in."
When asked about what he wants to see from Sanders in his sophomore season, Barry said, "I think the biggest thing we want to see from Shedeur is just continued growth. I think he grew a lot from start one to start seven. Certainly, playing more efficiently, not putting the ball in harm's way as much will be important while maintaining the ability to produce out of structure and generate explosive plays.
"You're not going to see all of that in the upcoming month because we're not on the field. So the biggest thing he can do is learn the new offense, get in with the coaching staff once our offseason program starts, continue to work on his body physically and then make strides once we actually get on the grass."
My take: Not mentioned was Dillon Gabriel, the team's third-round pick last year out of Oregon. Gabriel, thrown into the starting job when Joe Flacco was traded to the Bengals, played six games before an injury forced him out, making way for Sanders. Gabriel didn't set the world on fire, but he had seven touchdowns to two interceptions, and no fumbles. Sanders had seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions in seven starts, losing two fumbles and was sacked 23 times (Gabriel, 19). Sanders was the worst-rated NFL quarterback to start a minimum seven games (18.9 QBR, Gabriel 31.4; Sanders 68.1 rating; Gabriel 80.8). Gabriel had the highest rating of any player to take a snap for the Browns last season (including Flacco) and he's not even in the conversation.
THE ASYLUM
Barry talks Browns QBs
Browns general manager Andrew Barry addressed assembled media Tuesday at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine and said that Deshaun Watson will be in the quarterback competition this season with Shedeur Sanders.
"I think any player on our roster we would want to compete. We believe in competition at every spot," Berry said. "That's no different than quarterback. Deshaun's been working really hard. He's been working his tail off. Like I said, we're excited to go into April with all of our players across the roster because competition is something that we really believe in."
When asked about what he wants to see from Sanders in his sophomore season, Barry said, "I think the biggest thing we want to see from Shedeur is just continued growth. I think he grew a lot from start one to start seven. Certainly, playing more efficiently, not putting the ball in harm's way as much will be important while maintaining the ability to produce out of structure and generate explosive plays.
"You're not going to see all of that in the upcoming month because we're not on the field. So the biggest thing he can do is learn the new offense, get in with the coaching staff once our offseason program starts, continue to work on his body physically and then make strides once we actually get on the grass."
My take: Not mentioned was Dillon Gabriel, the team's third-round pick last year out of Oregon. Gabriel, thrown into the starting job when Joe Flacco was traded to the Bengals, played six games before an injury forced him out, making way for Sanders. Gabriel didn't set the world on fire, but he had seven touchdowns to two interceptions, and no fumbles. Sanders had seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions in seven starts, losing two fumbles and was sacked 23 times (Gabriel, 19). Sanders was the worst-rated NFL quarterback to start a minimum seven games (18.9 QBR, Gabriel 31.4; Sanders 68.1 rating; Gabriel 80.8). Gabriel had the highest rating of any player to take a snap for the Browns last season (including Flacco) and he's not even in the conversation.
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