Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will compete for the starting job.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will compete for the starting job.
Deshaun Watson wants his job back. A new video shows the Cleveland Browns quarterback healthy and moving well — a significant development heading into what could be his final chance in Cleveland.
Watson shared a clip showing him cutting and changing direction with ease. It’s notable for a player who missed all of 2025 recovering from two Achilles surgeries. Watson is expected to be fully healthy when the Browns begin offseason workouts in April.
The timing works in his favor. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah recently identified Watson as “the frontrunner” for the starting job in 2026. New head coach Todd Monken wants a mobile, dual-threat quarterback — and Watson’s ability to move after two Achilles surgeries matters. Watson is in the final year of his fully guaranteed $230 million contract and it’s a make-or-break season for his career.
“I think that anytime that you have a player that at one time has exhibited the skill set at an elite level, you’re always going to give them the benefit of the doubt,” Monken said. “I’m gonna let it play out.”
Reason for Skepticism Around Deshaun Watson
The video is encouraging but Watson’s track record is not. Watson has started just 19 games since arriving in Cleveland, going 9-10 with 3,365 yards, 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. In 2024, he posted a career-low 79.0 passer rating in seven starts before getting hurt again.
General manager Andrew Berry isn’t handing anyone the job, and the Browns are expected to explore outside options at quarterback this offseason as well.
“Any player on our roster, we would want to compete. We believe in competition at every spot,” Berry said at the NFL Combine. “That’s no different than quarterback. Deshaun’s been working really hard. He’s been working his tail off. Like I said, we’re excited to go into April with all of our players across the roster because competition is something that we really believe in.”
Shedeur Sanders Still Has a Shot at Browns Starting QB Job
Watson isn’t the only one with something to prove. Shedeur Sanders is back for his second season after going 3-4 in seven starts as a rookie, passing for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Monken likes what he’s seen.
“What I see in Shedeur is elite playmaking ability. It’s in him,” Monken said. “You saw it in college. You saw it on tape last year. Sure, there’s a ways to go. But what first-year player doesn’t have a long way to go?”
Monken has insisted the competition will be open heading into training camp.
“I don’t know why it wouldn’t be an open competition,” Monken said. “I don’t think there’s enough on film over the last couple years one way or the other to say, ‘Boy, we have our starter at quarterback yet.’ Whether internally or externally.”
More clarity is expected once free agency opens in March. For now, Watson’s video is a reminder he’s still in the mix and remains hungry for the job.