When the Cleveland Browns offered to trade Deshaun Watson four years ago, they had no idea what would follow next.

However, it appears that the franchise is unfazed by Watson’s controversial stint as QB1 and has made a concerning observation. The Athletic's Zac Jackson weighed in on Watson’s $230 million trade and the QB1 competition on May 5. 

“In an ideal world, not only would (the QB battle) be 100% performance-based, but it would be clear to those making the decision… that whoever outperformed the other guy would take the job and run with it,” Jackson said on the 'Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show' podcast.

Jackson’s stance is a follow-up of the reports he’s heard in recent times. Being in absence since October 2024, Watson could be taking over as the Browns' starting quarterback for the upcoming season.

“Jackson said he’s heard the Browns have decided Deshaun Watson IS going to perform better” the podcast's official page wrote in an X post. 

Currently, the Browns QB room consists of four names: Watson, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, and the rookie Taylen Green. However, the competition for the starting quarterback position is limited to Sanders and Watson. 

Jackson’s reluctance to see the 30-year-old do well is not baseless. When the Browns acquired Watson from the Houston Texans, they offered him one of the biggest NFL contracts.

“One of the reasons the Browns don’t live in an ideal world is because, four years ago, they made the worst trade in the history of the NFL,” Jackson said.

Watson signed a five-year $230 million guaranteed contract with the Browns in exchange for three first-round picks (2022, 2023, 2024), a 2023 third-round pick, and a 2024 fourth-round pick to the Texans. 

However, the Browns did not reap the desired rewards.Watson faced a one-year suspension in 2022. He also showed poor performance in 2023, before sustaining an Achilies injury sidelining him for more than a year.

With his limited contribution in the 2024 season, the Browns went 4-13. The following year, they had a 5-12 record in 2025. 

Franchise owner Jimmy Haslam had called Watson a “swing and a miss” trade in March 2025. However, he appears to have had a change of heart recently.

Haslam's Change of Opinion Regarding Watson

A recent report suggests that Haslam is inclined to send Watson on the field this season. 

“Now it looks as though Watson will be given a chance to be QB1 despite being declared a big swing and a miss. Now Haslam could consider Watson as more a checked swing,” Ted Crow wrote on May 6. 

While Crow has alluded to Haslam’s plausible stance on Watson, another report has fueled that Watson could certainly start this season. 

On April 29, Browns’ insider Mary Kay Cabot revealed that Watson “has the inside track to be named the Browns QB1.”

Cabot also wrote that he “emerged from the Browns’ voluntary minicamp last week with an edge over Shedeur Sanders in the two-man quarterback competition.”

If the Browns’ front-office have decided that Watson is their starter for the upcoming season, there is little to do to change their minds.

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Rishab Nandi