Marcus Spears says Sanders should start over Watson

Watson's fully guaranteed deal is worth $230 million.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Aug 241 min read

"It's about 230 million dollars. ... It hasn't worked out. ... Shedeur Sanders should be the starter." Marcus Spears we Via @ESPNNFL on X

What happened: Cleveland chose Watson for Week 1 after splitting first-team reps between the quarterbacks during the offseason and training camp. Sanders will open the season behind him on the depth chart.

Why it matters: The decision commits Cleveland to a veteran carrying a $40.9 million cap hit this season. Spears argued the size of Watson's contract should not outweigh the case for a change at quarterback.

By the numbers: In Cleveland's 31-7 preseason loss Saturday, Sanders completed 9 of 11 passes for 74 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Watson went 5 of 12 for 36 yards with one interception.

What to watch: Watson's Week 1 performance will provide the first test of Cleveland's decision. Sanders' practice workload could show how firmly the depth chart is set.

Sources

@ESPNNFL 2026-08-24T17:12:54.586599+00:00

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