Shedeur Sanders' Browns problem could get even worse if Deshaun Watson fails

Shedeur Sanders may already be facing a complicated route to playing time with the Cleveland Browns , but the situation could become even messier if Deshaun Watson fails to deliver.

The Browns ' decision to continue investing in Watson has attracted criticism, particularly because Sanders ' development could become caught up in whatever happens with the veteran quarterback.

ESPN analyst Jason Fitz questioned the entire setup around Cleveland's quarterback room.

"What a mess. What an absolute mess," Fitz said.

Shedeur Sanders caught in Cleveland's quarterback experiment

Watson's contract and status have made Cleveland's quarterback situation unusually complicated, with every decision carrying consequences for the players behind him.

Fitz argued that the Browns have created a problem that goes beyond simply deciding who should start.

"You have a quarterback situation where you're trying to figure out what Deshaun Watson is, you're trying to figure out what Shedeur Sanders is," Fitz said.

That uncertainty could hurt Sanders if Cleveland spends too much time trying to make the Watson experiment work before seriously evaluating its younger quarterback.

Sanders entered the NFL needing opportunities to develop, but those opportunities could become harder to find if the Browns remain committed to Watson regardless of his performance.

Browns could face pressure if Watson struggles

The biggest issue may come if Watson doesn't play well.

Cleveland would then face pressure to make a change, but any decision involving Sanders would arrive amid intense expectations and scrutiny rather than as part of a carefully planned development process.

Fitz believes the Browns have made their own situation unnecessarily difficult.

"The Browns have burdened themselves with this Deshaun Watson experiment," he said.

That burden could eventually fall on Sanders as well.

If Watson performs, Sanders may spend significant time waiting for an opportunity. If Watson struggles, calls for change could place the rookie into a difficult situation before Cleveland has decided whether he's genuinely ready.

Neither outcome necessarily gives Sanders the straightforward development path a young quarterback normally wants.

The Browns still have time to establish a clear hierarchy, but their continued uncertainty around Watson risks making Sanders' first NFL season far more complicated than it needs to be.

And if the veteran fails to justify Cleveland's faith, the pressure surrounding the rookie could quickly become even greater.