Deshaun Watson, the quarterback for the Browns, has taken on a significant role as he heals from a recent Achilles injury this offseason. Unfortunately, it’s likely that he’ll miss a large part, if not all, of the 2025 season. Mary Kay Cabot from Cleveland.com reports that veterans like Joe Flacco, alongside younger players such as Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders, are competing for the starting position, with Sanders particularly benefiting from Watson’s mentorship.
Watson’s presence has been valuable in the quarterback room, where he’s supported the competition among these players. Cabot noted that he’s been a great teammate, cheering on the four individuals vying for the starting role.
In fact, he’s been especially helpful for rookies Gabriel and Sanders, staying dedicated to helping them carve out a place on the team. Speaking of Sanders, the 23-year-old, son of NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, has been receiving encouragement from Watson, which is quite touching.
Deion Sanders expressed support for Watson back in October 2024, after Watson’s initial Achilles injury, noting his happiness in seeing Watson mentor his son. It seems Watson is eager to give back to the game through this coaching role as well.
This offseason has raised many questions surrounding Watson’s future in Cleveland—especially after he faced another Achilles injury and had to undergo surgery in January. Two months later, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam indicated that the investment in Watson, which totaled $230 million, has not paid off as expected, describing it as a “big swing and a mistake”.
The Browns had originally traded for Watson in March 2022, signing him to a fully guaranteed five-year deal. His tumultuous time in Cleveland saw him fined $5 million during the first 11 games due to allegations of sexual misconduct involving a massage therapist.
Watson was only able to participate in 13 regular season games across the 2023 and 2024 seasons because of injuries. This led the Browns to secure Flacco in April, following the acquisition of Pickett from the Eagles in March.
The team also drafted Gabriel in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft and added Sanders in the fifth round. Cleveland is set to start its season at home on September 7th against the Bengals.
