News that the Cleveland Browns intend to give Deshaun Watson the chance to operate as the starting quarterback in 2026 has not gone down well among fans and observers. Little wonder, since it is Watson who is most responsible for the disaster the team has become in recent years, after he signed a five-year, $230 million guaranteed contract following the massive trade the Browns made with the Texans in 2022.
The Browns have tried to sell Watson as a former Pro Bowler who has struggled with injuries (two Achilles tendon surgeries) but still has the talent that made him great before the trade within him. Cynics would point out that the Browns owe Watson $45 million this season and are trying to get him on the field in a desperate final attempt to justify the trade.
And reality suggests the cynics are right–Watson has not played since October of 2024, and he led the Browns to a 1-6 record with an anemic 79.0 quarterback rating back then.
Browns Have Deshaun Watson Leading QB Race
But veteran Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported last week that Watson was, indeed, the leader of the quarterback competition over Shedeur Sanders after the team’s early April practices.
That wasn’t a big surprise on the Browns beat, Zac Jackson of The Athletic notes, even if it makes little sense.
“There’s just no gain in the Browns playing Deshaun Watson,” Jackson said on his “Zac Jackson and Friends” podcast. “I’ve been clear about that, I’ve thought about that, I have been questioned about that. I’ve not changed on that because that’s how it is as I’ve talked about here. There have been whispers, they want to play Deshaun, they’re going to play Deshaun, brace yourself for playing Deshaun. I’ve had no logical explanation for why that would be the truth.”
GettyCleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
Browns Motivating Shedeur Sanders?
So, why has this come out? One bit of speculation that has made the rounds is that perhaps it is the Browns’ intention to play Sanders all along, and they’re using the notion of Watson beating him out for the job to get him to push harder in training and practices.
Unless Watson is just significantly better than he’s been at any point in his Cleveland tenure, that might be the only logical excuse.
Said Jackson: “I have zero doubt that someone told Mary Kay Cabot that and that there was some motivation to whomever said that and whether that motivation is softening the blow for fans to have an ounce of common sense, whether that motivation was putting out feelers for what that reaction was going to be, or whether that motivation was all designed to get the best version of Shedeur Sanders—and I get that, but you are hoping you are getting the best version of Shedeur Sanders anyway.”
Playing Deshaun Watson Is ‘Not Logical’
In the end, though, the Browns giving Watson a shot, no matter the reason, does not make sense for a team with an offense that is in the midst of a rebuild, with a rookie left tackle and two rookie receivers expected to play big roles.
More from Jackson: “For a building team, playing a quarterback who sunk the ship, who is only under contract for one more year, who has an extensive injury history and has only started 19 games for you and completely failed in all but three of them is just not a winning proposition, it’s not logical, it’s not smart, it’s a waste of time.”
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