ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter broke the news that the Cleveland Browns decided to name veteran quarterback Deshaun Watson as its starter for the 2026 season.

The 30-year-old had been viewed as the favorite throughout much of the competition, even as QB Shedeur Sanders continued to make his case. So, as the news broke, Sanders’ close confidant and media manager, Hellion “Boog” Knight, responded to it.

“Respect!!! 🦾 The competition is over. They’ve named our leader. Let’s ride with 4,” Knight, who is the head of operations and president of Young Money APAA Sports & Entertainment, wrote on X.

Since Sanders joined the Browns, Boog, who remains active on social media, has been called out for sharing things that favor the second-year quarterback. However, the social media manager has always denied being Sanders’ voice.

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 “I never said I was 2’s voice. There’s thousands of people here speaking on 2. And 2 not the only person or thing I speak on. I’m a man first. I represent ME. His views aren’t mine, and mine aren’t his. Anyone who can’t figure that out, that’s on them,” Boog wrote in 2025. 

However, he was naturally banking on Sanders getting the QB1 spot instead of Watson. Before the decision, Boog had written that “everything in me knows that 2 at QB1 gives this team the best chance to win.”

Still, it will be Watson who starts the regular-season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The veteran is also expected to receive another opportunity in the Browns’ third preseason game against the New England Patriots. It seems like Sanders and his camp have accepted their fate for the 2026 season, but how Dawg Pound reacts to the news will be interesting to watch.

Watson has not gelled well with Browns fans. He was booed at home during his last game in 2024 when he tore his Achilles, and during his first home appearance since the injury. That is not the kind of welcome a starting quarterback would expect.

“Last time I played on this field, I tore my Achilles, and that same fanbase, they cheered when I got hurt,” Watson said. “So what does that have to do with anything about performance? When a person gets hurt, especially for your own city, and they cheer.”

During the QB competition, both Sanders and Watson were given opportunities to battle and show their skills to claim the number one spot. For that, both quarterbacks started one preseason game each.

Watson started the first game against the Chicago Bears and completed 11 of 15 passes for 126 yards without a touchdown or interception. Sanders completed six of 11 passes for 79 yards and threw one interception in that game.

However, it was the second preseason game against the Bills when Watson was booed. Sanders started the game and completed 9 of 11 passes for 74 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Meanwhile, Watson finished with just 5 of 12 passes for 35 yards and threw an interception.

Watson enters the season under enormous pressure. Cleveland traded three first-round picks and additional draft capital to acquire him from the Houston Texans before giving him a fully guaranteed $230 million contract. Yet, in four seasons with the Browns, he has played only 19 games and won nine.