Deshaun Watson remains part of the Cleveland Browns quarterback plans for 2026 despite missing the entire previous season. New head coach Todd Monken said he is “intrigued” by the chance to work with the former Houston Texans star.
Monken acknowledged Watson as a legitimate contender alongside second year Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. The 30-year-old quarterback is fully healthy after recovering from two Achilles surgeries. Watson began working with his private trainer in South Florida this week.
He will start throwing again Wednesday with quarterbacks coach Quincy Avery, according to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. Some Browns receivers may join him during these workouts.
Doctors fully cleared Watson for football activity back in Nov. He practiced with the team during a three-week stretch in Dec when Cleveland opened his practice window.
Watson signed a fully guaranteed $230 million contract with the Browns in March 2022. The deal has carried an $80.7 million cap hit for 2026, the final year of his deal.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, center, poses for a portrait with general manager Andrew Berry, left, and coach Kevin Stefanski during Watson’s introductory news conference March 26, 2022, in Berea, Ohio.
Todd Monken is “intrigued” by Deshaun Watson and he will be given a chance in the 2026 QB battle, per @MaryKayCabot
Once he began practicing in December, some in the organization felt that “he was the best quarterback on the field during that stretch” per Cabot#DawgPound pic.twitter.com/GGKrblRkoD
— SleeperBrowns (@SleeperBrowns) February 10, 2026
Watson’s Contract Creates Financial Pressure to Keep Him on Roster
The Browns traded three first-round picks to acquire Watson from Houston. General manager Andrew Berry said the team anticipates Watson being on the 2026 roster, which surprised some observers given his limited production since arriving in Cleveland.
Watson appeared in only 19 games over the past three seasons due to a suspension and injuries. He posted a 9-10 record with 3,365 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions during that span.
Cutting Watson would create severe cap consequences for Cleveland. A pre-June 1 release would result in a $131 million dead cap charge. A post-June 1 designation would split the damage into roughly $80 million in 2026 and $50 million in 2027.
The Browns already owe Watson future cap hits of $25.7 million, $16.7 million, and $8 million between 2027-29 from previous contract restructures.
Monken’s Offensive Philosophy May Benefit Watson if Mobility Returns
Deion Sanders Breaks Silence on Viral Tweet Urging Shedeur Sanders to Redeem NFL "Assassination"
Deion Sanders Breaks Silence on Viral Tweet Urging Shedeur Sanders to Redeem NFL “Assassination” (Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images)
Monken spent 2025 as the Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator before accepting the Browns job. He worked with quarterback Lamar Jackson, who won NFL MVP honors.
Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot discussed Watson’s fit with Monken’s system on 92.3 The Fan. She noted Monken witnessed Watson’s capabilities when Watson played through a bad ankle and fractured shoulder to beat Baltimore 33-31 in Week 10 of the 2023 season.
“(Monken) knows what Deshaun Watson is capable of when healthy. He’s all about the mobile dual threat QB. Can Deshaun even run anymore like that, coming off of two ruptured Achilles? We don’t know, but he will have a chance to show what he can do,” Cabot said.
Monken told Ashley Holder of Cleveland 19 News that Watson’s past production intrigues him.
“You’ve got a player like Deshaun, who’s coming back from injury and at one time was a Pro Bowl player, and an elite player in this league, that we would love to tap back into that let alone with Dillon and Shedeur,” Monken said.
Watson earned three Pro Bowl selections from 2018-2020 with Houston. He led the NFL in passing yards in 2020 with 4,823 yards and threw 33 touchdowns.
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett told Micah Parsons on his podcast that Sanders is the quarterback Cleveland is “looking at as the guy” but added that Sanders would have to earn the role through competition.
Whether Watson can regain his Pro Bowl form after two Achilles surgeries will determine if he can compete with Sanders and Gabriel for the starting job when the Browns begin their offseason program in Apr.