Deshaun Watson's Return Named Reason Cleveland Browns 'Shouldn't Be Overlooked'

In a story called "1 Reason Every NFL Team Shouldn't Be Overlooked in 2026," NFL analyst Alex Kay of Bleacher Report named Deshaun Watson's return for the Cleveland Browns. 

Watson missed last season recovering from the Achilles tear he suffered in 2024. 

"The biggest change from last year is at the quarterback position. While the Browns still have incumbent Pro Bowl starter Shedeur Sanders on the roster, Deshaun Watson is likely to get the first crack at running Monken's offense," Kay wrote. "If he can stay healthy and return to the level he displayed during his tenure with the Houston Texans, the Browns will have a real shot at being one of the surprise stories of the season."

Watson has 3,365 passing yards and 19 passing touchdowns with Cleveland. He's thrown 12 interceptions.

Since making his Browns debut, Watson has posted a 33.1 Total QBR, the lowest among qualified passers. The odds of the former Houston Texans star turning back the clock after an Achilles tear are pretty low, which is why many NFL pundits believe Cleveland should start Shedeur Sanders so the team can fully evaluate him for an entire season. 

Many Cleveland fans want Sanders to start because Watson has been horrendous since getting traded to the Browns. He also dealt with off-the-field stuff.

When Watson tore his Achilles in 2024, Browns fans cheered. That should tell you everything about how Cleveland fans regard Watson. 

Some people in the NFL believe the Browns are best suited to be putrid again in 2026 so that they can get a top pick in 2027 and select Arch Manning or Dante Moore. Let's see what happens. 

The Browns will use training camp and the preseason to determine who will start Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. It will be fascinating to see who wins between Sanders and Watson. 

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.