Cleveland Browns Week 1 Starting QB NFL Betting Odds & Predictions

The Cleveland Browns had a four-man quarterback competition last season, and two of those guys are still there for this season’s three-man quarterback battle.

But if we’re being honest, this year it’s admittedly more of a two-horse race, because Dillon Gabriel has fallen way back of the pack. Not only is he putting up +5,500 odds to win the job by Week 1 without taking any first-team reps so far this offseason, but he lost his jersey number (No. 8) seemingly against his will.

Gabriel, now wearing No. 6, is the clear QB3 on this roster. No. 1 and No. 2 are up for grabs, however. Can the shamed Deshaun Watson really win this job back? Or will second-year man Shedeur Sanders hold court after a rocky but overall positive rookie season at the helm?

Read on for the NFL betting odds for who will land that QB1 job for Cleveland in Week 1 as well as our analysis and predictions!

Cleveland Browns Week 1 Starting QB NFL Betting Odds & Predictions

All betting odds provided by Betway.

The Favourite: Deshaun Watson (-195)

After sitting out all of 2025 and a lot of 2024, Deshaun Watson seems primed for a return in 2026. At least in some capacity. Watson has not been the same Pro Bowl-level player he was pre-COVID, and pre-holdout, and pre-two dozen sexual assault allegations.

Last time he had an extended run, he went 1-6 in 2024 and looked like arguably one of the worst quarterbacks in the league. All those shoulder issues don’t inspire confidence either.

But believe it or not, despite all that’s happened surrounding him and his career, the guy is still only 30 years old. And whether you think he should even be playing in the NFL aside, his talent before 2020 was undeniable. The question is whether he can rediscover it.

General manager Andrew Berry has said things like “you have to be flexible” and “everything is on the table” when it comes to Watson’s future with the team. That suggests he could be around for a while longer. And if Watson stays past 2026, it’s because he’s starting.

Our Best Bet: Shedeur Sanders (+160)

Standing in Watson’s way is the guy that finished the 2025 season as Cleveland’s starter. Shedeur Sanders had his moments, but was overall mediocre as a rookie. Which was reasonable considering the support he had on the offensive side and the fact he didn’t get the starting job until deep into the campaign.

Beat writers including Zac Jackson at The Athletic have not been overly impressed with either QB so far during offseason activities. Most recently, Jackson has called Watson inconsistent, while also saying that Sanders has improved across the last couple of months.

Offensive coordinator Todd Monken said he won’t name a starter yet, but he also said that Sanders has improved as well, pointing out that he’s more decisive that he had been.

With all the baggage hanging around Watson, the fact he hasn’t played a good game of football since 2020, and the fact that he’s not impressed during this offseason even now that he’s supposedly healthy are all working against him. Not to mention his minus odds are none too pleasing. Sanders at +160 is much more reasonable value.