The Browns’ veteran quarterback, Deshaun Watson, is locked in a starting quarterback battle against Shedeur Sanders.

As Watson prepares for the 2026 season, his performance for the QB1 role is under scrutiny. NFL insider Zac Jackson of The Athletic called out Watson for his inconsistency during the minicamp. 

“My spring conclusion, you know, there’s not really any conclusions,” said Jackson on the 92.3 The Fan show. “This was a new offense, this was a new environment, Deshaun was playing for the first time. But I think it’s a fair spring conclusion to say that he’s the same player he’s been here, which is an inconsistent player, not accurate, bad decisions. He’s just not any good.”

The 30-year-old made a comeback to the Browns camp after a ruptured Achilles injury in 2024 kept him away for the entirety of the 2025 season, too.

The Browns acquired Watson in 2022 from the Houston Texans for a massive $230 million and a five-year contract. His deal was the highest fully guaranteed contract in the NFL's history.

Since then, Watson's performance has been inconsistent, including the two surgical procedures he underwent and the subsequent rehab, as reported by Cabral Opiyo of Pro Football Network.

Before his Achilles injury in the 2024 season, Watson went 1-6 as a starter and registered 1,148 passing yards, five touchdowns against three interceptions and scored a 63.4% completion rate.

His future with the Browns, considering the massive investment they made in him, has been a point of contention.

“There’s no point in the Cleveland Browns of 2026, who are playing for the future, playing him,” added Jackson. “I hope that they’re gonna get around to that thought. But he’s just never gonna take that next step… The Browns made an incredibly bad trade and it is absolutely comical that he would still be on the team.”

As Watson’s performance and future continue to make headlines amid talks of a potential Sanders trade, an NFL legend backed the veteran.

NFL legend endorses Deshaun Watson for the qb1 role

The Browns’ head coach Todd Monken hasn’t named his starting quarterback yet but hopes to by training camp in July or most by the first two preseason games against the Bills in August. 

In the meantime, Watson has received support from NFL legend Chad Johnson during his appearance on The Nightcap podcast on Sunday.

“Deshaun Watson is the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns,” said Johnson. “It is his job to lose. He has six weeks, I guarantee you. Listen to me now, he has six weeks to make sure that the team is playing above or better than whatever the expectations may be for that team and that quarterback.”

Johnson concluded by saying that if Watson fails after six weeks, Sanders will fall in line as the backup and start the rest of the season.

Who do you think will finally become the Browns QB1 between Watson and Sanders?

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Written by

Naomi Grace

Edited by

Kalp Thaker