Former UFC Champion Conor McGregor's 2026 comeback ended without a single punch being thrown, after a leg injury wiped out his UFC 329 clash with Max Holloway on July 11. One analyst believes that is the fate awaiting Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson.

“I’m gonna get really good at golf, and I’m gonna give myself until about week three,” said Cleveland sports radio host Nick Pedone on 92.3 The Fan on July 12. "Because at that point, I expect that either Deshaun Watson will be hurt, similar to what we saw in Conor McGregor last night, the five-year layoff, or he’ll be so laughably bad that it’ll be time for Shedeur Sanders."

After a clash with Dustin Poirier in 2021 that left him with a broken shin, Conor 'Mystic Mac' McGregor was sidelined from competition. He spent years building for his comeback, and when he actually did, it was a straight-out disappointment.

According to his conversation on 92.3 The Fan, NFL insider Nick Pedone believes Watson's NFL future could take a similar turn.

Just like McGregor, Watson has been struggling to stay healthy since 2022. In 2023, he missed 11 games for the Browns due to a rotator cuff injury, a shoulder fracture, and a high ankle sprain.

In 2024, he missed another 10 regular-season games after tearing his Achilles tendon. Last season, he suffered yet another Achilles rupture, forcing him to miss the entire campaign. The last full season he played was in 2020 with Houston.

Inconsistency, coupled with injuries, has made Deshaun Watson one of the most unreliable quarterbacks in recent years.

Pedone believes that even if the Browns name him their starting QB, he would likely suffer another injury and miss a significant portion of the season.

While his 2026 starting position has definitely been under intense scrutiny, one analyst believes that Watson's pro career is nearly over.

Analyst delivers harsh verdict on Deshaun Watson's NFL future

It seems that despite starting his career on a high note, Deshaun Watson is now fighting to stay relevant within the Browns organization due to his inconsistency.

As he battles Shedeur Sanders for the QB1 job, NFL insider Dustin Fox believes his career is nearing its conclusion.

“He’s done nothing for the Browns outside of playing maybe one good half of football,” Fox said on the Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show on July 1. “If he can’t beat out two essentially rookies who are not high draft picks, his career is over.”

Watson signed a massive five-year, $230 million contract with the Browns in 2022. But five years later, it has been labeled one of the worst deals in NFL history.

He has missed 49 of the Browns' 68 regular-season games, making him increasingly unpopular among fans.

To make matters worse, teams no longer view him as the enticing quarterback he once was. Dustin Fox expressed that even if he plays this season, his career is nearly over.

“Who is going to sign this guy if he can’t beat Shedeur or Gabriel? Even if he does and he plays mediocre, still not getting a chance next year,” said Fox.

The Browns have a QB dilemma, and Deshaun Watson has a career dilemma. Amid all the chaos, the franchise finds itself in a difficult spot.

Given all that, what are your thoughts on Watson's career?

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Written by

Suryakant Das

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit