New Browns RT Tytus Howard makes bold Shedeur Sanders prediction amid Deshaun Watson uncertainty

Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry gave quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson some help when Berry sent the Houston Texans a fifth-round draft pick to acquire right tackle Tytus Howard. 

While speaking with reporters on Monday, Howard offered a bold prediction regarding what Sanders could become for the Browns. 

Tytus Howard: Shedeur Sanders "can be a great player in this league"

"I met Shedeur when I came in last week," Howard explained, per Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "He’s a great kid, and he has a lot of confidence. I like that. I like that in a quarterback. He definitely has the pedigree. He has all the talent in the world. ...And I know that he has all the tools to be a really good quarterback in this league, and he’s shown that he can be a great leader also. So I’m excited to work with him. I’m excited to get to know him a little bit more, and I’m looking forward to blocking for him. So I know Shedeur can be a great player in this league."

As of the middle of March 2026, Sanders and Watson are viewed by most Browns reporters as the co-favorites to begin next season as the club's starter. Berry seemingly didn't make a real attempt to sign former Green Bay Packers backup Malik Willis before Willis joined the Miami Dolphins. The Browns also reportedly won't trade for Indianapolis Colts backup quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. this offseason.

Sanders went 3-4 over seven starts as a rookie this past season. He also produced some of the worst stats among qualified quarterbacks for the campaign. 

Tytus Howard wants "fair competition" for Browns' starting quarterback job

As for Howard, he and Watson were previously teammates with the Texans from the opening night of the 2019 NFL Draft up until Cleveland acquired Watson from Houston in March 2022. Like others associated with the Browns, Howard doesn't know what Watson will and/or won't be coming off the multiple Achilles injuries that kept the quarterback out of action from October 20, 2024, through all of the 2025 season. 

"I just know that it’s going to be a fair competition between those guys," Howard said about how new Browns head coach Todd Monken will choose the club's QB1 this coming summer. "When it comes down to playing quarterback, whatever guy goes out there and takes advantage of leading the team in the right way and having everyone want to be able to buy into what they’re putting out there on the field and who they are as a person, that’s the guy that’s going to win the job." 

Howard also vowed that he will do whatever he can to ensure that Cleveland signal-callers are "as comfortable as possible" in the pocket during games. While the offseason program hasn't yet gotten underway, it sounds like Howard has no favorite regarding the Browns' unsettled quarterback situation.