Cleveland Browns pass-rusher Jared Verse has a front-row seat to the quarterback battle between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, and so far, he's been impressed.
"These are two great quarterbacks," Verse said Wednesday on "Good Morning Football", according to Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com. "I'm honestly excited to see how it goes further in the preseason, but so far, I've just seen two elite quarterbacks battling it out."
The Browns' quarterback battle is expected to continue into training camp. Head coach Todd Monken declined to name a starter after minicamp.
Sanders ended his 2025 rookie season as the Browns' starter, going 3-4 with seven touchdowns to 10 interceptions. Watson, meanwhile, is in the final year of his contract. His four-year stint in Cleveland has been disastrous due to a combination of disappointing play, injuries, and suspensions. The veteran hasn't played since October 2024 after undergoing multiple surgeries on a torn Achilles. When Watson has been on the field for Cleveland, he's posted a 9-10 record with 19 touchdowns to 12 interceptions.
The Browns are in a transitional period, and Verse is crucial to the team's new direction. A two-time Pro Bowler and the 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year, Verse arrived in Cleveland in a blockbuster trade this offseason that sent star pass-rusher Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams.
The Browns finished last in the AFC North in each of the last two seasons.
