The Ongoing Deshaun Watson Situation in Cleveland

The tumultuous period with Deshaun Watson in Cleveland might stretch until 2026.

After dealing with a second Achilles injury during the offseason, Watson just resumed practicing last week. He’s reportedly still in the running to be the Browns’ starting quarterback for the next season.

Due to the way NFL contracts work, the Browns are still on the hook for $46 million of Watson’s fully guaranteed deal, which many consider one of the worst in league history. It’s said that it would be quite unexpected if he’s not on the roster when training camp kicks off.

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam has publicly referred to the decision to trade a significant amount of draft capital and sign Watson to a fully guaranteed $230 million contract as a “huge swing and miss.” This comes on the heels of more than 20 allegations of sexual misconduct against Watson during his time with the Texans—a matter that ended without a jury indictment, followed by an 11-game suspension when he joined the Browns.

At 30 years old, expectation is that Watson won’t take the field this season, even in practice. His last game was back in October 2024; however, he might still make the 53-man roster before the 21-day deadline runs out.

The Browns hinted at moving forward by drafting quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, who collectively have a lackluster starting record of 2-6 as the team faces a difficult 3-9 season.

It’s hard to think of a quarterback situation that stirs more debate than Watson and Sanders—each triggering strong reactions, though for vastly different reasons.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski commented on Watson’s determination in rehab, expressing optimism about his return to practice and competition.

Of course, both Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry were united in the decision to trade Baker Mayfield for Watson back in 2022. There’s uncertainty about whether that stance will hold over into the offseason, which could impact Watson’s role within the organization.

Interestingly, the Browns also hold two first-round picks in the 2026 draft, so they have the option to select another quarterback if they decide to go that route.

Since the major trade, Watson’s performance has been marked by inconsistency: he’s gone 9-10 with 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.