Cleveland Browns
Browns could look to trade Deshaun Watson.
The Cleveland Browns could make a surprising decision at quarterback.
Cleveland is set to have an open quarterback battle between Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson, and Dillon Gabriel. Yet, it appears Sanders and Watson are the frontrunners for the starting job.
However, NFL insider Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report believes the Browns would be open to trading Watson if they can find a suitor.
“He’d be tough to move for financial reasons but is part of a huge stable of passers in Cleveland,” Gagnon wrote. “The Browns would likely love to part ways if they could find a taker willing to work with them on the money. … As we’ve noted, they could find a suitor for Watson if they want to leave it to the youngsters.”
Watson is in the final year of his five-year, $230 million deal, but given that his cap hit is over $44 million, it’s highly unlikely the Browns would be able to move him.
However, if the Browns can land a trade for Watson, the team is more than open to making it happen. Yet, it does appear that Watson will play out the final year of his deal with the Browns before becoming a free agent at the end of the year.
Monken Believes Watson Could Turn Back the Clock
Watson hasn’t been able to stay on the field since being traded to the Browns due to suspensions and injuries.
Watson is set to return from an Achilles injury that he tore in 2024, which he reaggravated this year, to miss all of 2025. Although he hasn’t played in nearly two years, new Browns head coach Todd Monken has plenty of confidence he can turn back the clock and be his old self.
“I think anytime that you have a player that at one time has exhibited the skillset at an elite level, I think you’re always going to give them the benefit of the doubt that somehow we might be able to get that out of him again,” Monken said. “And I think that’s how you should look at every player.
“Now you’re going to have some preconceived notions obviously, because we have prior evidence, but I don’t decide who plays. The players decide who plays. I’ve never decided who plays.”
Watson is a three-time Pro Bowler and does have the most talent in the quarterback room. However, whether or not he will be able to regain his from years ago before the injuries is uncertain.
Watson led the NFL in passing yards in 2020.
Browns Keeping Options Open at QB
Although Monken believes Watson can turn back the clock to his old self, he won’t be handed the starting job.
Instead, Monken said it will be a true open competition between all three quarterbacks.
“I think it’s an open competition,” Monken said. “I mean, I don’t why it wouldn’t be an open competition, I don’t mean that saying it harshly. But 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.”
So, as long as the Browns don’t add another quarterback, it will be a true competition.