Former Browns WR Andrew Hawkins Says Shedeur Sanders Deserves the Chance Over Deshaun Watson
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The Cleveland Browns have made their call at quarterback, however, Andrew Hawkins is not convinced they picked the right guy.
The Browns handed the starting job to Deshaun Watson over Shedeur Sanders after a lengthy competition. Hawkins understands why the veteran got the nod. He just does not believe Watson’s track record with the Browns gives the team much reason to feel comfortable about that decision.
Andrew Hawkins Makes Shedeur Sanders Case Over Deshaun Watson With Cleveland Browns
Watson brings something Sanders does not: a long NFL résumé and a proven ceiling. The issue with this is, as stated by Hawkins, the Browns have already had their fair share of the other side of the equation. Watson’s career at Brown has not gone well due to injuries, inconsistency, and performance that does not match what people expect out of his enormous contract.
This is the reason why Hawkins thinks that Sanders needs to get a chance. Even though he admitted that the young player has his inconsistencies and even bad days, he feels that there is something special about the quarterback that should be developed. His view of Watson was more critical.
“I don’t [agree with Todd Monken’s QB decision]. I get Deshaun Watson has played a lot of football in the league, and, in some ways, you can kind of see the floor. We’ve seen the bad version of Deshaun Watson. We’ve seen the great version of Deshaun Watson. I know Shedeur Sanders might be a little feast or famine, but in Deshaun Watson’s tenure as a Browns quarterback, it has been famine or famine. That sounds mean, but it’s the truth. It just hasn’t lived up to the contract that we signed him under in Cleveland. For Shedeur, he is young. Yeah, it’s gotten ugly at times, but there’s been a lot of glimpses where he does have something here.”
Former Browns WR Andrew Hawkins believes Todd Monken's decision to start Deshaun Watson is the wrong one, arguing that Watson's Cleveland tenure has been disappointing while Shedeur Sanders has shown flashes of potential.
"I don't [agree with Todd Monken's QB decision]. I get… pic.twitter.com/qLviLPdCra
— BrownsNation.com (@BrownsNationcom) August 28, 2026
The point is not that Sanders has already proven himself to be a better NFL QB. Sanders still has plenty to clean up, and the Browns’ decision to start Watson reflects the coaching staff’s current evaluation.
However, Sanders offers the Browns something Watson cannot: the possibility of discovering a higher long-term ceiling. The rookie has already shown enough during his opportunities to remain part of the conversation, even after falling to the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
That makes the coming season particularly important for both QBs. Watson now gets the first chance to prove the Browns right, while Sanders has to continue developing without knowing when his next opportunity will come.
If Watson struggles, however, Hawkins’ argument could become much louder. Cleveland would then have to decide whether it wants to keep riding with a veteran whose Browns tenure has disappointed or finally find out what Sanders can do with the offense built around him.
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