While vacationing in Switzerland with his wife, Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson struck a pose like that of Shedeur Sanders.

An X post made on Monday pointed out that the veteran player is paying homage to Sanders, who took over as the starting quarterback mid-season last year.

“Deshaun Watson in Switzerland paying homage to QB1 in Cleveland,” the post read.

In the photo, Watson and his wife, Jilly Anais, are seen posing the way Sanders does after he scores a touchdown since his college days. In his rookie season, Sanders celebrated his scores similarly, while Watson watched from the sidelines. 

His presence was seen as reassuring to rookies Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, who were navigating a rocky season. The 30-year-old made some sporadic appearances during the Browns’ matchups while he was still recovering from his Achilles injuries. 

Watson’s injuries allowed him to play only 19 games in four years- a huge issue for the Browns, as he was traded from the Houston Texans for a $230 million contract. And in the few games he has appeared, Watson scored over 19 touchdowns for 3,365 yards. 

Watson’s absence after earning such a hefty pay cheque had always upset the fans.

Fans Expressed Their Frustration With Watson Under the X Post

One X user wrote, “Spending all of Cleveland money!” accompanied by a crying GIF, which resonated with many in the comments section. Another fan called him out and commented, “Enjoying his free money. Worst contract in sports.”

One fan stated that Watson’s five-year contract was a guaranteed one. Which means he would receive the money despite his absence or poor performance. 

“People don’t realize Watson’s 230 million dollar contract is all guaranteed.. he gets all 230 mil no matter what.. so he’s set for life.. he’ll never stop smiling,” they reacted.

Another reacted similarly but opined that Watson would not compete with Sanders to become the starter since he already has deep pockets.  

“Deshaun got generational wealth, hes chilling lol I dont think he cares about the game anymore. He wants Shedeur to be QB1.”

But one shared a photo of Watson and Shedeur from a Browns matchup, where Watson is seen explaining something to the 2025 rookie. This fan commented that Watson has supported Sanders’ growth in the league. 

“And Watson has no problem supporting Shedeur's growth too. Much respect for that,” the fan captioned the photo. 

Regardless of the varying opinions on Watson, he is here to stay for another year. And with that, Watson, Sanders, and another rookie, Dillon Gabriel, are grappling for the QB 1 position. 

Who do you see starting next season? Tell us your thoughts in the comments and follow the Cleveland Browns community for more.

Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu