Rafael ZamoranoNov 11, 2026
Zamorano writes that with no deadline deal, Deshaun Watson is expected to reclaim the Browns' starting job and Shedeur Sanders returns to the bench. They also predict the Browns will use the draft capital from the Myles Garrett trade to find a new quarterback, and that Cleveland's unsustainable quarterback play will catch up with the 5-4 team.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Rafael Zamorano said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromSo, it looks like the audition isn’t done.
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- Browns' Silence at Trade Deadline Means One Thing for Deshaun Watson Moving Forward
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Shedeur Sanders to be 2nd on the depth chart“Watson is now expected to reclaim his starting job ... as Sanders returns to the bench, pending head coach Todd Monken’s official announcement.”
- 2Deshaun Watson to stay with Cleveland Browns“the team seemingly wants to keep its options open with Watson, just in case.”
- 3Deshaun Watson to be 1st on the depth chart“Watson is now expected to reclaim his starting job after missing last weekend’s start with a concussion as Sanders returns to the bench”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shedeur Sanders to be 2nd on the depth chart1 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Deshaun Watson to stay with Cleveland Browns2 | Trade and Signing Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Deshaun Watson to be 1st on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 3 calls · 3 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
3 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls and 1 trade and signing call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 3 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 1.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
Where this call stands in the room
Deshaun Watson · 2026 season75 calls from 42 pundits between 1 and 2. Rafael Zamorano said 1. the room's median is 1. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
Their call against the room
Their call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.
1Depth Chart CallsShedeur SandersCleveland Browns
Shedeur Sanders to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Trade and Signing CallsDeshaun WatsonCleveland Browns
Deshaun Watson to stay with Cleveland Browns
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Depth Chart CallsDeshaun WatsonCleveland Browns
Deshaun Watson to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Rich Eisen · Trade and Signing Calls · Myles Garrett · Hit 100
Discussing Myles Garrett's trade request, Eisen said they expect Garrett to get their way and be moved out of Cleveland rather than stay, which is why staying would be shocking.Doug Joubert · Score Predictions · Cleveland Browns · Miss 26
Joubert picks the Browns to win 28-17, saying the Saints haven't improved over the first half of the season despite Cleveland starting Shedeur Sanders.Pat McAfee · Game Outcome Picks · Cleveland Browns · Miss 0
McAfee picked the Browns, with Shedeur Sanders starting, to beat the Saints in New Orleans.Michael Moore · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
In a Week 9 injury roundup, Moore forecast which banged-up fantasy contributors would play or sit: Deshaun Watson, Garrett Wilson, David Montgomery, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrance Ferguson are expected out, while Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, Michael Wilson, Christian Watson and Emeka Egbuka should play. They also expect Shedeur Sanders and Drew Lock to start at quarterback.Mitchell Eisenstein · Game Outcome Picks · Cleveland Browns · Miss 0
Mitchell gave their Week 9 top-five power rankings, keeping Buffalo first and the 49ers second while elevating the Bears, Jaguars and Lions, and picked a slate of Week 9 games including a Packers win in New England, a Panthers upset of Denver, and blowouts for Detroit, Kansas City and Houston. They also tabbed Jonah Coleman as a late-season Offensive Rookie of the Year pick.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Nic Bodiford · Depth Chart Calls · Joe Fagnano · Hit 100
Previewing Week 9 running game matchups, Bodiford expects Jacksonville to win lopsidedly over a depleted Baltimore team, with Bhayshul Tuten sitting out and Chris Rodriguez taking over as lead back, while Joe Fagnano starts at quarterback for the Ravens. They also view Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman as an RB2 going forward.Jacob Herlin · Depth Chart Calls · J.J. McCarthy · Hit 100
Herlin published Week 7 fantasy D/ST rankings with projections for 28 team defenses, led by Houston, Minnesota and Cleveland. They also expect Cleveland to post a fourth straight top-10 fantasy defense result, and predicts Jalon Daniels starts another week for Tampa Bay while J.J. McCarthy takes over as the Giants' starter.