Cleveland Browns veteran Deshaun Watson is a tier six QB, according to CBS Sports.
NFL analyst Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports believes Deshaun Watson of the Cleveland Browns is a tier six QB.
DeArdo views Watson as a placeholder.
"A former Pro Bowler in Houston, Watson has made just 19 starts since 2021," DeArdo wrote. "If he is going to have a chance to continue his career beyond this season, Watson (who is entering the final year of his contract) will have to excel this season under new Browns coach and former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken. He'll also have to beat out Shedeur Sanders."
Watson missed the entire 2025 season recovering from his Achilles tear. Suspension and injuries have limited the veteran to just 19 games since he arrived in Cleveland.
Since making his Browns debut, Watson has posted a 33.1 Total QBR, the lowest among qualified passers.
A Clemson product, Watson has 3,365 passing yards and 19 passing touchdowns with Cleveland. He's thrown 12 interceptions.
The Browns will start Watson or Shedeur Sanders next season. As expected, Watson wants to start so he can prove to everyone that he's still a starting QB in the NFL.
"I think each and every person that walks into the locker room should have that mindset that you want to start in this league," Watson said. "That's why we show up each and every day, to be able to go out there and be able to perform on Sundays or whatever that day is. So yeah, it's definitely the main focus of why I work hard to be able to come back."
Cleveland went 5-12 last season. Todd Monken replaces Kevin Stefanski, who was fired and joined the Atlanta Falcons as their new HC.
Thus far, Monken has liked what he has seen from Watson.
"Ball's coming out great," Monken said about Watson's play following the team's first voluntary veteran minicamp practice. "Looks great. ... I can't get into his body to know how his body felt today, but he moved around great. And the ball came out great."
The Browns did restructure Watson's contract in March, so 2026 will probably be his last year with the team. Cleveland freed up close to $36 million in cap space.
Watson was set to have an $80.7 million cap hit in 2026, the largest in the NFL. The 2026 season is the final guaranteed year of Watson's contract. He's set to count for a $44.9 million cap hit.
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