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Dawgs By Nature fantasy football takes on Deshaun Watson
Every source-backed article insight STACKED has extracted from Dawgs By Nature about Deshaun Watson.
80
Insights
22
Positive
25
Negative
Insight ledger
All Dawgs By Nature insights about Deshaun Watson
NegativeRoleAug 23, 2026
Watson has not been good since 2020, has been a polarizing figure since joining the Browns in 2022, and delivered a poor performance with a bizarre post-game press conference in the preseason finale. Head coach Todd Monken is weighing the starter decision for Week 1 against Jacksonville, with Watson's time in Cleveland likely done after this season and no upside to naming him the starter from an off-field perspective. The source notes that if Watson starts, fan backlash will be brutal, though the first two road games will delay home fan anger until Week 3.NegativeProjectionAug 23, 2026
Watson carries a $127 million salary cap obligation for the Browns in 2026. If released immediately, he creates $40.9 million dead cap in 2026 and $86.2 million in 2027—the second-most expensive QB release in NFL history after Tua Tagovailoa's $55.4 million hit. If retained through 2026 and released post-June 1st, the cap charges spread to $40.9M (2026), $36M (2027), and $51.5M (2028), still totaling the same amount but reducing the 2027 burden to $36 million. The source notes the Browns will have approximately $50 million in cap space in 2027 assuming a post-June 1st release, but an immediate release would eliminate that flexibility entirely.NegativeRoleAug 23, 2026
Watson was expected to be named the 2026 Browns starter before the preseason game against Buffalo, but his poor performance in that game and subsequent negative press conference have created uncertainty in the starting QB competition; HC Todd Monken had been leaning toward the veteran, but Watson's on-field struggles and public statements may now impact his path to the starting role.NegativeBustAug 23, 2026
Watson is described as 'probably the better of the bunch, which isn't saying much,' and looked horrific against third-stringers. The source notes he is spent; he used to run often with gazelle-like strides but now lumbers as he leaves the pocket. His press conference has added more questions about his status.NegativeRoleAug 23, 2026
Watson's starting job is in jeopardy following a lackluster preseason performance and controversial postgame comments. In the second half against Buffalo, he completed 5 of 12 passes for 36 yards and an interception. When asked about boos from the Cleveland crowd, Watson blamed fans rather than acknowledging performance issues, saying the response was "disrespectful" and "personal." The source questions whether the coaching staff should subject the young offensive roster to the hostile environment that would result from Watson earning the starting job for Week 1, suggesting his postgame press conference could cost him the starting position.NegativeProjectionAug 23, 2026
Watson's preseason performance against Buffalo was characterized as 'a disaster' in a 31-7 loss; he was booed four times by the sparse home crowd during the third quarter, his first action in Cleveland in 22 months. The QB competition between Watson and Shedeur Sanders failed to provide clarity on the starting role, with multiple sources suggesting the Browns need to make a decision and move forward rather than continue the battle.NegativeRoleAug 22, 2026
Watson is expected to be named the starting quarterback for the season opener against Jacksonville, not because he has earned the role through performance, but because the Browns lack a viable alternative; the backup is a fifth-round draft pick whose primary asset is not being Watson. The source indicates Watson will likely start Week 1 and potentially Week 3 (first home game), where he will face significant fan backlash.NegativeInjuryAug 22, 2026
Watson returned to the field for the first time since tearing his Achilles tendon on October 20, 2024, against Cincinnati. His preseason performance against Buffalo was poor: 5-of-12 passing for 36 yards and an interception, with multiple three-and-outs. The source notes Watson has played in only 19 games across his five seasons with Cleveland due to multiple season-ending injuries and an NFL-mandated suspension, and has not performed at a high level during his limited availability.NegativeProjectionAug 22, 2026
Watson completed 5 of 12 passes for 35 yards and 1 INT, also rushing twice for 13 yards in preseason game 2 against Buffalo backups. The source notes he did not look comfortable after his first read, the ball came out of his hand inconsistently, and his interception on a tipped high throw looked bad. Despite context of playing with backups versus backups, Watson's poor performance and Sanders looking better than last week complicates HC Todd Monken's decision on the starting QB, which he wanted to make early next week.NegativeProjectionAug 22, 2026
Watson's preseason performance was poor, completing 5-of-12 for 35 yards with 1 INT; the source describes him as looking 'disastrous in the third quarter,' throwing two incompletions for a three-and-out on his first drive, another three-and-out on his second drive with a throw in the dirt, and an interception on 3rd-and-5 when he threw too high to Gage Larvadain; this performance undermines his standing in the Browns' quarterback race despite playing with reserves.NegativeRoleAug 22, 2026
Deshaun Watson put up a decent effort in the team's first preseason game and has looked marginally better as camp has rolled along. He will play the third quarter in this week's preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, competing with Shedeur Sanders for the Browns starting quarterback job.NegativeRoleAug 22, 2026
Watson is reported as the likely Browns' Week 1 starter based on training camp reports, though his status could be challenged if Shedeur Sanders delivers an efficient and consistent performance in the preseason game against Buffalo.PositiveProjectionAug 22, 2026
Watson passed the first preseason test against Chicago with a C-grade performance; he operated the offense efficiently on paper and played fast in terms of processing and getting the ball out quickly, though he looked indecisive and hesitant when things sped up. The source notes Watson is shaking off rust after two Achilles tears and time away from football since the 2024 season, but he operated the offense better than Shedeur Sanders in the competition. Watson's quick ball release and efficient operation of the offense, despite the hesitation under pressure, position him ahead in the QB race heading into the Buffalo game.NegativeRoleAug 22, 2026
Watson is expected to take over in the third quarter of the preseason game against Buffalo; this is his final opportunity to compete with Sanders for the starting QB role before head coach Todd Monken makes his decision.NegativeProjectionAug 22, 2026
Deshaun Watson's deep pass efficiency has been a concern for the Cleveland Browns. The source notes that while Watson and Shedeur Sanders have both received criticism for their efficiency on deep passes, the Browns' receiving depth on deep passes was not good last season, raising questions about who will serve as Cleveland's expected deep threats.PositiveProjectionAug 21, 2026
Bills reporter Sal Capaccio praised Deshaun Watson's pocket reads and decision-making at the joint practice. When Watson had time to figure things out in the pocket, he made better reads compared to Shedeur Sanders, who had some nice moments but struggled when things got chaotic.NegativeProjectionAug 21, 2026
Deshaun Watson's four-plus years with the Cleveland Browns have been defined primarily by unavailability rather than on-field performance; his tenure has been marked by a personal conduct policy suspension and multiple injuries that have kept him off the field, raising durability and consistency concerns for fantasy purposes.PositiveRoleAug 21, 2026
QB Deshaun Watson started the joint practice session against Buffalo and demonstrated strong performance in 11-on-11 drills, connecting with WR KC Concepcion on multiple quality throws including a pass over the middle and a deep crossing route. Watson also found TE Blake Whiteheart for a touchdown pass in red zone work. While Watson had one interception in a second-team red zone drill, Bills media observers noted they believed Watson was the best quarterback on the Browns roster. Josh Allen spoke with Watson after practice and appreciated his determination to fight back from his injuries.NegativeProjectionAug 20, 2026
Deshaun Watson is described as 'often injured, largely ineffective' in the Browns' uninspiring quarterback competition against second-year Shedeur Sanders. However, Watson's workload in the Aug. 20 joint practice against Buffalo is expected to be voluminous, while his Aug. 22 preseason game workload is expected to be much lighter, suggesting limited fantasy relevance in preseason but potential starting role implications.PositiveRoleAug 19, 2026
Watson will enter the preseason game in the third quarter against Buffalo backups, providing a valuable opportunity to get live reps after having played only 19 regular-season games since 2000. Watson emphasized the importance of preseason game action for executing, getting live reps with both teams on the sideline, and regaining timing and rhythm, noting that "practice is a little different; it's more controlled, but this is not."NegativeProjectionAug 19, 2026
QB Deshaun Watson, working with the second-team offense, threw two interceptions during Day 16 practice; one interception on a deep ball to WR Tylan Wallace appeared to result from favorable defensive positioning rather than poor execution, with CB Tre Avery's back to the ball before the pass bounced into his arms.NegativeProjectionAug 18, 2026
Watson has played only 19 games since joining Cleveland and missed 33 due to suspensions and injuries; his play has been below average and he has yet to show the Pro Bowl-level talent he displayed with the Texans when he was a Top-5 signal-caller. To become the face of the franchise, he will need to ball out and play at a Pro Bowl level all season, but Browns fans either like him or despise him—none love him, even if he took Cleveland to the promised land.NegativeRoleAug 18, 2026
Watson will play the third quarter in the upcoming joint practice game against the Bills; most Browns starters will rest Saturday vs. the Bills if they get enough good work in during Thursday's joint practice.PositiveProjectionAug 17, 2026
Watson looked more comfortable than he has in previous years, a slight improvement; he did the least to hurt his stock in the preseason game, completing 11-of-15 (73.3%) for 126 yards with 1 fumble.NegativeRoleAug 17, 2026
Will play the third quarter in preseason game against Buffalo as part of the planned quarterback rotation; head coach Todd Monken indicated that if the joint practice against the Bills goes well, some veterans or starters won't play in the preseason game.PositiveProjectionAug 17, 2026
Watson had a statistically good preseason performance against the Bears despite not playing in a game for nearly two years, suggesting he is regaining rhythm and competency after his extended absence from game action.NegativeRoleAug 17, 2026
Central figure in the Browns' ongoing QB competition with Shedeur Sanders; the source notes the competition is 'far from over' and 'not simple' following the preseason opener against the Bears, indicating Watson's starting role remains contested despite his veteran status.PositiveRoleAug 16, 2026
ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler reports Watson has "some momentum, not all the momentum" and "seems well positioned right now" in the Browns QB competition; Herm Edwards stated "This is the guy," suggesting Watson holds the lead heading into Saturday's preseason game against Buffalo, though Fowler expects the coaching staff to make a final decision after that contest.NegativeProjectionAug 16, 2026
Watson started strong in his first preseason start but a strip sack derailed his afternoon performance in the Browns' 34-10 loss to the Bears, raising concerns about the quarterback competition and offensive execution under new coordinator Todd Monken.NegativeProjectionAug 15, 2026
Watson started crisp with comfortable pocket presence and good throws across the middle (11/15, 73.3% completion, 129 yards, 98.2 passer rating in first half), but deteriorated as the game sped up, looking uncomfortable and failing to produce offensively. On 4th down, he failed to get the ball out quickly, leading to a fumble and turnover with 2.75s average time to throw and 4.4 air yards per attempt. The source notes the veteran left the door wide-open for Shedeur Sanders to run through next week, suggesting Watson's performance was far from perfect in establishing himself as the QB leader heading into Bills joint practices.PositiveProjectionAug 15, 2026
Watson completed 11-of-15 for 126 yards with 3 rushes for 4 yards in his first start with Cleveland. The source notes his prior reputation for looking rusty or lacking confidence, but observed improvement: "I thought he looked more sure of himself." While the source acknowledges "plenty of flaws" remain, the overall assessment is that Watson had "an OK first start" with better execution and confidence than expected.PositiveProjectionAug 15, 2026
Watson completed 11 of 15 passes for 126 yards with 3 rushes for 4 yards in his first preseason start. Qb Deshaun Watson noted that Watson 'looked more sure of himself' compared to prior concerns about rustiness or lack of confidence, though 'there are obviously still plenty of flaws.' He had an 'OK first start' and showed improved confidence in the pocket.NegativeRoleAug 15, 2026
Watson gets the start in the preseason opener against Chicago, playing the entire first half before Shedeur Sanders enters in the third quarter. Head coach Todd Monken is managing the QB competition by giving both quarterbacks equal looks at first- and second-team offenses, with plans to get each a two-minute drive opportunity.NegativeRoleAug 15, 2026
Watson gets the start in the preseason opener against Chicago and could play the entire first half; his performance is part of head coach Todd Monken's ongoing evaluation of the quarterback room ahead of the regular season opener against Jacksonville.NegativeUsageAug 15, 2026
Deshaun Watson is scheduled to play the entire first half in the Browns' preseason opener against the Chicago Bears on Saturday. Head Coach Todd Monken plans to give Watson significant preseason reps, though one source suggests Monken should play it by ear and monitor how the game unfolds before committing to the full first-half plan. Watson's last game action was against the Cincinnati Bengals.NegativeRoleAug 14, 2026
Deshaun Watson confirmed to play the first half in the Browns' first preseason game against the Chicago Bears; Head Coach Todd Monken stated he wants each quarterback to play approximately a half and receive two-minute drill opportunities to evaluate quarterback performance and scoring ability.NegativeRoleAug 14, 2026
Watson has taken the lead at the starting quarterback position in the preseason competition; Royer projects Watson as the starter on the 53-man roster and notes that if Watson wins the job, Shedeur Sanders will not be on the roster via trade, while Watson's contract ensures he remains regardless of the outcome.NegativeRoleAug 14, 2026
Watson will start the preseason game against the Chicago Bears and has significant role clarity and performance expectations for regular season starting job competition; he and Shedeur Sanders both have a lot to prove this preseason, and if either quarterback can clearly separate themselves from the competition and consistently perform well, they could earn the starting job for the regular season.NegativeRoleAug 14, 2026
HC Todd Monken has assigned QB Deshaun Watson the starting quarterback title for the first preseason game against the Chicago Bears, though the Browns still do not have a confirmed starting quarterback for the 2026 regular season.NegativeRoleAug 13, 2026
HC Todd Monken has assigned Deshaun Watson the starting quarterback title for the first preseason game, though the Browns have not yet named a starter for the 2026 NFL season. Watson remains in active competition with Shedeur Sanders for the starting role.PositiveProjectionAug 13, 2026
Todd Monken is not ready to concede that Deshaun Watson, who could be his QB1 this season, can't be the 2020 version of himself who made his third straight Pro Bowl with the Texans and led the NFL with 4,823 yards. Watson will start Cleveland's preseason opener against the Chicago Bears.NegativeRoleAug 12, 2026
Head coach Todd Monken announced that QB Deshaun Watson will get the first preseason start this Saturday against the Chicago Bears. However, the source notes that Monken also confirmed Shedeur Sanders will start the third quarter against Chicago and the entire second preseason game against Buffalo, suggesting the QB competition remains open and Monken has not definitively settled on Watson as the starter.NegativeRoleAug 12, 2026
Deshaun Watson named starting QB for preseason game against Bears; hasn't played since October 2024 and needs game action against another team; competing with Sanders for QB1 role; will play approximately one half with opportunity for two-minute drill; Monken selected Watson for road game to avoid home crowd concerns and because Watson requires live football reps after extended absence.NegativeRoleAug 12, 2026
HC Todd Monken named Watson the starting quarterback for the preseason game against the Chicago Bears on Saturday. Watson will play approximately the first half, with Monken stating the plan is for both Watson and Sanders to play a half each to further the evaluation process. Monken chose Watson for the road game partly because Watson has not played since October 2024 and needs game action against another team, and because Monken had to select someone to start this week while maintaining the competition with Sanders. Watson expressed readiness for live football, saying "For me, it's just really being able to play live football against a different opponent" and that he is looking forward to operating in a live setting without coaches on the field.NegativeRoleAug 12, 2026
Deshaun Watson is competing with Shedeur Sanders for the starting quarterback role in the Cleveland Browns' preseason opener against the Bears; coach Todd Monken had not named a starter as of Day 12 of training camp and may announce by Wednesday or keep folks guessing.PositiveUsageAug 12, 2026
Deshaun Watson threw a touchdown pass to Isaiah Bond on a deep ball during training camp, demonstrating connection and accuracy on vertical routes.PositiveRoleAug 12, 2026
In game simulation periods—the most competitive and realistic practice segments—Deshaun Watson has fared better than Shedeur Sanders, showing more productive move-the-ball sessions; this performance differential in simulated game conditions is emerging as the key separator in the ongoing quarterback competition.NegativeRoleAug 11, 2026
The Cleveland Browns quarterback competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders remains ongoing despite both struggling throughout OTAs and training camp; Todd Monken has given Watson a full practice with the No. 1 offense on one day and then rotated back to Sanders, indicating the battle is still active with each expected to start one of the first two preseason games.NegativeRoleAug 10, 2026
Watson is competing with Shedeur Sanders for the Week 1 starting quarterback role; Head Coach Todd Monken has indicated both quarterbacks will each start one preseason game, with the preseason action being used to help judge who the team's Week 1 starter should be. Monken conveyed he hopes to get the starters the first series in the first preseason game against Chicago.PositiveRoleAug 10, 2026
HC Todd Monken adjusted QB rep distribution on Monday, giving Deshaun Watson first-team reps after Sanders had received more reps with the ones on Saturday. Watson completed a deep pass to Cedric Tillman with defenders nearby. Both QBs will start at least one preseason game.PositiveRoleAug 10, 2026
Watson appears to have taken control of the Browns QB competition despite both he and Sanders struggling throughout OTAs and training camp. HC Todd Monken gave Watson all first-team reps on Saturday despite initially stating Sanders would receive them. The source suggests Watson's edge stems from his superior presnap process and cadence work—areas Monken has emphasized as vital for the starting quarterback. Watson's veteran experience managing the presnap process is seen as beneficial for developing Cleveland's young offensive core (Judkins, Fannin Jr., Fano, Concepcion, Boston, Bond), as poor quarterback execution could teach bad habits to younger players. While Watson has been 'better but not great' at presnap activities compared to Sanders, his relative advantage in this area appears to be the deciding factor, making him the likely choice as the 2026 starter.NegativeRoleAug 10, 2026
Watson is now positioned to be named the starter for the Browns over Shedeur Sanders, marking a potential shift in the team's quarterback hierarchy after his injury-plagued tenure.NegativeInjuryAug 10, 2026
Watson suffered a shoulder injury in 2023 and a torn Achilles tendon in 2024, which he re-tore in 2025, causing him to miss 38 games over three seasons (2023–2025). The Browns declined to activate him during the 2025 season despite a 21-day return window, as the season was essentially lost.PositiveProjectionAug 10, 2026
Watson has improved significantly in his area of weakness over the past week during Browns training camp; the source notes he has made strides in accuracy and efficiency as the quarterback competition heats up.NegativeProjectionAug 9, 2026
Deshaun Watson, a three-time Pro Bowler, is competing for the Browns' starting QB role in 2026. The Athletic ranked him #31 among the league's top 35 quarterbacks in the bottom tier. The source notes the Browns' QB situation remains unresolved after training camp, with drama emerging on Day 10, and questions whether Watson can rekindle his skills.PositiveRoleAug 9, 2026
Watson took QB1 lead on Day 10 of Browns training camp, getting all first-team reps on Saturday (August 8) in what was supposed to be Shedeur Sanders' day; this marks the first change in quarterback order during camp and suggests Watson may be moving ahead in the two-way battle for the August 15 preseason opener against Chicago.PositiveRoleAug 8, 2026
Watson received most of the first-team reps on Day 10 despite head coach Todd Monken indicating beforehand that Shedeur Sanders would get the ones; Watson delivered a solid practice, marking the second time in three days he looked like a respectable NFL quarterback; the team later clarified Monken wanted Watson to work with certain personnel groupings, suggesting a potential shift in first-team reps distribution leading into the preseason.PositiveDepth ChartAug 8, 2026
Watson took all first-team QB reps on Saturday with 34 pass attempts, a significant shift from the alternating schedule that had been in place throughout the offseason and training camp. Head coach Todd Monken had told media before practice that Sanders would take the majority of first-team reps, but Watson received all of them instead, with Sanders relegated to second-team reps alongside Dillon Gabriel. The change suggests Watson has taken the lead in the Browns' QB competition ahead of game preparation for the Chicago Bears.NegativeRoleAug 8, 2026
Watson is competing with Shedeur Sanders for the starting QB role in the August 15 preseason opener against the Chicago Bears. Head coach Todd Monken has stated he expects to give both quarterbacks a start in the preseason before making a final decision on the regular-season opener against Jacksonville. Watson has shown veteran presence in camp, though the source notes neither quarterback has demonstrated enough to instill confidence as a long-term solution.NegativeRoleAug 8, 2026
Competing with Shedeur Sanders for the starting QB position; as of two weeks into training camp, neither has separated from the other despite some snap differences on Thursday; HC Todd Monken plans to name a starter later in training camp after both players have been evaluated through rotating days of reps.NegativeRoleAug 7, 2026
Watson is in active competition with Shedeur Sanders for the Browns starting QB job, with Head Coach Todd Monken planning to name a starter after rotating reps through training camp. However, camp performance has been disappointing; Watson still looks lost or wild most days, with only a few good throws mixed in between, raising concerns about his readiness for the starter role.NegativeRoleAug 7, 2026
Quarterback Deshaun Watson had a mixed Day 9: he connected with Isaiah Bond on a deep ball down the left sideline and later found Bond for a touchdown in an end-of-game situation, but he also sailed a pass over Bond's head that was intercepted by cornerback Denzel Ward. He continues to compete in the quarterback battle with mixed results.NegativeDepth ChartAug 7, 2026
No separation from Shedeur Sanders in training camp competition; HC Todd Monken reiterated that Watson and Sanders remain even despite a noted difference in some snaps on Thursday.PositiveDepth ChartAug 7, 2026
Watson received first-team reps in 7-on-7 periods during Thursday practice, going first in two 7-on-7 periods while Sanders went second. Per Mary Kay Cabot's observation, the QB1 designation has consistently gone first in 7-on-7s and 11-on-11s through Day 8 of training camp, suggesting Watson may be unofficially moving into the QB1 role and positioning to receive the bulk of starting snaps. Though Watson came in with a leg up and neither QB has clearly distanced themselves after almost two weeks of training, this rep allocation signals a potential edge in the competition.NegativeRoleAug 7, 2026
Watson is trying to salvage his career as the only veteran in the Browns QB room, but he hasn't played since 2024 and is currently locked in an ongoing QB battle with rookie Shedeur Sanders with no clear leader emerging. As of camp, neither Watson nor Sanders has taken the lead for the starting job, with reports from camp being back and forth on who is ahead. Watson is likely going to play out his contract and move on after the season.PositiveProjectionAug 6, 2026
QB Deshaun Watson had his best practice session by far at Browns training camp Day 7, throwing 7 touchdown passes in 7-on-7 drills (including goal-line passes). While the stat tracker inflates the number due to drill context, Watson showed sharp execution in the basics, representing a step forward in his camp performance.NegativeInjuryAug 5, 2026
Veteran QB competing for Week 1 starter role; returning from twice-torn Achilles injury that caused him to miss all of last year; healthy enough to participate in training camp; likely to be the primary Week 1 starter over Gabriel and Sanders unless something drastic changes.PositiveRoleAug 5, 2026
Watson demonstrated elite cadence ability in Todd Monken's drill designed to test QB cadence; he was able to draw the defense offsides twice, while backup Shedeur Sanders could not, highlighting Watson's command of the offense's snap-count system.PositiveProjectionAug 5, 2026
Watson had his best practice session by far on Day 7, throwing 7 touchdown passes (though some were goal-line passes in 7-on-7 drills); he was sharp in the basics, representing a step forward in his development.NegativeRoleAug 5, 2026
Watson is competing for the Browns' Week 1 starting QB job against Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel; has received significant criticism for his camp performance thus far, creating uncertainty around his role despite being the presumed starter entering camp.NegativeRoleAug 4, 2026
Watson is in a two-man quarterback competition with Shedeur Sanders under head coach Todd Monken, but after one week of training camp, several members of the media have shown dismay with his performance, with Dillon Gabriel appearing more consistent in early camp work.NegativeProjectionAug 4, 2026
Mike Sando's QB tiers do not speak highly of Deshaun Watson, ranking him among the lower-tier quarterbacks in the 35-QB evaluation.NegativeProjectionAug 4, 2026
In Mike Sando's annual QB tiers article surveying 50 executives and coaches ranking 35 veteran quarterbacks, Deshaun Watson was ranked 31st overall and placed in the lowest tier. An offensive coach provided scathing evaluation: "I don't think he can come back. You do not all of a sudden get drive and desire and processing skills. He showed he had none of that with what he put on film. He's a 5 (lowest tier ranking) at this point." One voter's confidence in HC Todd Monken placed Watson in Tier 2, but the consensus is deeply skeptical of his ability to recover under the new offensive system.NegativeRoleAug 4, 2026
Deshaun Watson is competing for the starting quarterback role with Shedeur Sanders during the 2026 training camp under new head coach Todd Monken. Watson will attempt to salvage his NFL career amid the quarterback competition.NegativeRoleAug 4, 2026
QB Deshaun Watson is first-team quarterback in competitive drills on Day 5 (first day in pads); connected with TE Harold Fannin on opening throw but went four-and-out in 90-second situation drill, showing mixed results in high-leverage scenarios.NegativeRoleAug 3, 2026
Watson remains in an active quarterback competition with Shedeur Sanders at Cleveland Browns training camp; GM Andrew Berry and HC Todd Monken have prioritized production in the decision-making process, with long-term team fit also a consideration.NegativeRoleAug 3, 2026
Watson is competing with Shedeur Sanders for the starting QB job in 2026 under new head coach Todd Monken. GM Andrew Berry and Monken have stated the decision will be based on production. From a team perspective, Cleveland gets little to no benefit starting Watson given the team is in year two of a rebuild; however, Watson personally benefits if he produces adequate tape, as it could help him secure another contract elsewhere, though not at his desired price point.NegativeProjectionAug 3, 2026
Watson's last tape was atrocious; his 2024 season showed a shell of his former self with worse decision-making, diminished athleticism, and reduced arm strength before tearing his Achilles. He missed the entire 2025 season recovering from the injury. This is his last chance to prove he can play in the NFL after being traded to Cleveland in a blockbuster deal and failing to replicate his Pro Bowl Houston Texans form.NegativeRoleAug 3, 2026
QB in active competition for starting role; the source notes that some believe Watson is in contention to be the starter, though the competition remains undetermined four days into camp. Head coach Todd Monken is evaluating the QB competition closely and will make his decision based on installs, game reps, and situational performance.NegativeRoleAug 3, 2026
Deshaun Watson is competing with Shedeur Sanders for the Browns starting QB job with no clear winner emerging through the first week of training camp. Watson threw an interception in a late-game situational drill on Saturday, and locker room chatter suggests neither Watson nor Sanders may be the best quarterback option on the roster. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken indicated the competition won't truly begin until offensive installations are complete and preseason games start.