Deshaun Watson didn't play last season, but he's still projected to start for the Cleveland Browns in 2026.
Deshaun Watson is projected to be the Cleveland Browns' starting QB in 2026 over Shedeur Sanders.
NFL analyst Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report believes the Browns will start Watson next season, even though the veteran didn't play last season and has struggled since the Houston Texans traded him to Cleveland.
"The quarterback situation in Cleveland will be a hot topic well into the summer, but if he's anywhere near 100 percent, Deshaun Watson is going to be the guy," Davenport wrote. "Whoever the quarterback is, he'll be playing behind an offensive line that features three new veteran starters and No. 9 overall pick Spencer Fano at left tackle. The skill positions got an overhaul as well—two of the Browns' projected starters at wide receiver (KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston) are also first-year players."
According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Watson emerged from the Browns' voluntary minicamp as the favorite to be the team's starting quarterback. Watson has the inside track to be Cleveland's QB1 in 2026.
Suspension and injuries have limited Watson to 19 games since he arrived in Cleveland. Since making his Browns debut, Watson has posted a 33.1 Total QBR, which would be 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.
Watson has 17,904 passing yards and 123 passing touchdowns in the NFL with the Texans and Browns. He was the 12th overall pick in the 2017 draft.
Cleveland went 5-12 last season. Todd Monken replaces Kevin Stefanski, who was fired and joined the Atlanta Falcons as their new HC.
"Anytime that you have a player that at one time has exhibited the skill set at an elite level," Monken said of Watson. "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, and I think that's how you should look at every player."
The Browns restructured Watson's contract in March. 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. He signed a five-year deal worth a fully guaranteed $230 million deal upon being traded to Cleveland before the 2022 season.
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