Browns' Deshaun Watson Named 18th-Best NFL QB Heading Into Week 8

NFL.com named Cleveland Browns veteran Deshaun Watson the 18th-best quarterback in the league heading into Week 8. 

Watson is one spot ahead of New York Giants QB J.J. McCarthy and one spot behind Pittsburgh Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers on NFL.com's QB rankings list. 

The Browns improved to 5-2 by beating the Tennessee Titans in Week 7. Kicker Andre Szmyt hit the game-winning kick at the end of regulation, helping Watson etch his name next to Troy Aikman and Matthew Stafford.

Watson has led a game-winning drive in each of the Browns’ five wins in 2026. Watson is just the third quarterback since the 1970 merger to have a game-winning drive in each of his team’s first five wins of a season, joining Aikman in 1990 and Stafford in 2016.

Watson went 25-of-36 through the air for 308 passing yards against the Titans. He also had 19 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. 

The Browns have defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens and Titans this season. They are in first place in the AFC North in Year 1 of the Todd Monken era. 

Watson, 31, has 1,482 passing yards, seven passing touchdowns and three interceptions this season. He's completing 64.8% of his passes for the Browns, who are averaging 19.0 points per game. That's 28th in the NFL. 

When Monken named Watson his starting QB, many pundits expected Watson to get benched for Shedeur Sanders. While that can still happen, for now, Watson hasn't done anything to lose his job.   

Sanders finished his rookie season with 1,400 passing yards, seven passing touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 169 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. He went 3-4 as a starter.

The Browns like how much Sanders has developed under Monken, and with no definitive long-term answer at QB, they are not motivated to move him or anyone else in the room right now.

Sanders now has formal representation after entering the NFL without an agent. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Sanders will be represented by Adie von Gontard of Young Money APAA Sports. The agency also represents his former college teammate, Travis Hunter.  

Watson's consistent ability to perform in crunch time remains one of the most surprising storylines of the 2026 season. It will be fascinating to see if he can continue to be clutch in the fourth quarter moving forward.

The Browns face the Steelers next week in Pittsburgh. Cleveland beat Aaron Rodgers and Co. back in Week 4, 27-24.  

Watson is 14-12 with the Browns. He has 4,847 passing yards, 26 passing touchdowns, 15 interceptions, 680 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. 

If Watson leads Cleveland to the playoffs, he could be back with the franchise next season.