Deshaun Watson won’t see the field this season with the Cleveland Browns but he’s not out of the picture just yet.
Watson landed in Cleveland in 2022 via a blockbuster trade that cost the Browns a treasure trove of draft picks. The team also signed him to a fully guaranteed $230 million deal, which runs through the 2026 season.
The financial implications of moving on from Watson make a clean break nearly impossible for the Browns. But keeping him around next season doesn’t just mean a roster spot. It could also place him in line for a meaningful role, with a real chance to jump ahead of Shedeur Sanders.
“I do believe he’ll be on the roster, in part because of the salary cap considerations,” Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot said on 92.3 The Fan. “He’ll be on the team next year and he will have the chance to start games at the beginning of the season as a bridge quarterback in the event that they need a veteran to do that.”
Browns Have Tough Decisions to Make at Quarterback
Watson’s role will depend mainly on the direction the Browns decide to go in at quarterback. The team holds two first-round picks and could take one of the top prospects. At 3-12, the Browns are sitting in the No. 3 overall spot with their first pick.
However, Sanders has shown upside in his five starts and the team could decide to move forward with him as their quarterback. But even if that happens, Watson could factor into the equation.
“If they stick with Shedeur and feel like he needs a little more seasoning, maybe they let Deshaun start a few games and let Shedeur continue to learn whatever he needs to learn to go out there and win,” Cabot said. “Or if they draft a quarterback in April and don’t feel he’s ready yet, there’s a world where Deshaun starts in place of him. He will be here, and as long as he’s healthy, he’ll have that chance.”
Browns Unlikely to Add Deshaun Watson to Active Roster
Watson returned to practice in early December after spending more than a year away from football recovering from two Achilles surgeries. His 21-day activation window expires after practice on Tuesday, December 23, and the Browns appear likely to let him finish the season on the physically unable to perform list.
“The lean was towards letting that expire and having him finish the season on PUP,” Cabot said. “He’ll go back inside, continue his rehab and continue to help the young guys in the meeting room.”
Watson has gone 9-10 as the Browns’ starter over three seasons, throwing for 3,165 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Cleveland appeared to signal a shift this offseason, with owner Jimmy Haslam bluntly describing the blockbuster trade for Watson as a “swing and miss.”
Watson has remained focused on returning to the field, documenting his recovery on social media. The former Pro Bowler feels he can still be a viable starting option in the NFL but faces an uphill battle.
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