One of the highlights of the Cleveland Browns’ offseason was the addition of promising wideouts KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston. The Browns used first and second-round picks on the wide receivers, adding them to an intriguing group of young offensive weapons that include tight end Harold Fannin Jr., running backs Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson, and wide receiver Isaiah Bond.
Unfortunately, the group’s first outing together didn’t really tap into that promise, with the Browns losing 34-10 to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1. Three of those points were set up by a 74-yard kickoff return by Raheim Sanders, and the lone touchdown came with just under two minutes left in the game, when the Browns were already losing 34-3.
Cleveland’s offense was incredibly disappointing. While the unit has a lot that it needs to clean up, the focus is, of course, on the quarterback position. The Browns have a brand new offensive line and the aforementioned exciting young weapons, but the quarterback is the straw that stirs the drink.
Deshaun Watson is currently QB1, and everyone is already asking when the team will turn to Shedeur Sanders. Cleveland needs to ask itself if Watson is truly the best quarterback on the roster that gives the young wideouts the best opportunity to produce and develop. Based on what Watson and Sanders have shown in recent years, Sanders is probably the better quarterback to get the young weapons rolling.
Browns’ pass catchers would benefit from Shedeur Sanders replacing Deshaun Watson
One thing everyone should know about Shedeur Sanders is that he knows how to get the ball into the hands of talented pass catchers. For better or worse, Sanders knows how to feed a target once he identifies them as a reliable weapon.
The young quarterback showed that throughout his college career, helping Travis Hunter win a Heisman, and also building exciting rapports with current NFL receivers LaJohntay Wester, Jimmy Horn Jr., Will Sheppard, and Xavier Weaver.
Sanders also showcased his ability to build strong connections with pass catchers during his rookie season with the Browns. Taking over as the starter in Week 12 of the 2025 season, the young quarterback helped fellow rookies Fannin and Bond put together their best stretches of football.
Fannin, who had already established himself as Cleveland’s top weapon, had the best game of his young career in Week 14, catching eight passes for 114 yards and one touchdown against the Tennessee Titans. Before an injury ended his season early, he caught a touchdown in four of the six games he started alongside Sanders, and Sanders targeted him an average of 7.3 times per game.
For comparison, Watson threw to Fannin just three times in Week 1, resulting in just two receptions for 21 yards. The only time Fannin’s production came close to being that low with Sanders in the lineup was in Week 17 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, when the tight end posted just two receptions for 30 yards and a touchdown. However, he did that in just 12 snaps, before leaving the game with an injury.
Bond, who’s in a different role this year, serves as an example of how Sanders’ play style can allow receiver’s to be their most productive. In the first eight games that Sanders didn’t start, Bond had 11 receptions for 123 yards. In the seven games with Sanders under center, Bond had seven catches for 215 yards, really showing off his deep-threat ability.
In Week 1 of this season, Bond didn’t record a catch, but he only played seven offensive snaps. The receivers who did play, though, didn’t do much more. Denzel Boston was targeted just four times, posting two receptions for 59 yards and a touchdown. However, the bulk of that came from a 46-yard touchdown with under two minutes left in the game.
KC Concepcion was targeted five times, and he caught four of the passes for 43 yards, and Jerry Jeudy caught two of his four targets for 26 yards. While the entire offense was far from perfect, the film shows there were far more opportunities to get the pass catchers involved.
That falls on the shoulders of the quarterback. Sure, it was just one game, but nothing from Watson in training camp or his limited outings in recent seasons suggests that will change. The quarterback on the roster who will definitely give his pass catchers a chance to make plays is Shedeur Sanders, and the Browns have to take that into consideration.
Add us as a preferred source on Google