NFL, American Football Herren, USA New York Giants at Cleveland Browns Sep 22, 2024 Cleveland, Ohio, USA Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson 4 after the game against the New York Giants at Huntington Bank Field. Cleveland Huntington Bank Field Ohio USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xScottxGalvinx 20240922_sns_bg7_00312
NFL, American Football Herren, USA New York Giants at Cleveland Browns Sep 22, 2024 Cleveland, Ohio, USA Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson 4 after the game against the New York Giants at Huntington Bank Field. Cleveland Huntington Bank Field Ohio USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xScottxGalvinx 20240922_sns_bg7_00312
Dec 26, 2025, 12:00 PM CUT
What's Next for Deshaun Watson as Browns Make Major Call on Franchise QB's Future
Kevin Stefanski has finally concluded Deshaun Watson. Stefanki revealed in Tuesday's press conference that the Browns will not be activating Deshaun Watson for the 2025 season.
Now, that raises a lot of questions about the QB situation. Let's dive into the options the Browns can explore with Deshaun Watson.
Trading Deshaun Watson could be a disaster
The Browns got Watson on one of the biggest contracts in NFL history, $230,000,000 for 5 years. To help manage the team’s salary cap, the Browns have restructured the deal multiple times, most recently converting about $44.7 million of his 2025 salary into a signing bonus to free up nearly $36 million in cap space.
He will carry an $80.7 million cap hit for 2026, the largest number in the history of the NFL. No team would like to take him for that amount of money, and if they did, there is about $135 million+ in cap charges left from Watson’s deal after 2025, which sets the Browns back for 2-3 coming seasons.
Will the Browns start him in the 2026 season?
His performance will ultimately be the deciding factor. NFL expert Mary Kay Cabot has revealed in her report that the QB is showing great progress.
NFL, American Football Herren, USA Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns Sep 7, 2025 Cleveland, Ohio, USA Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson 4 during the second half against the Cincinnati Bengals at Huntington Bank Field. Cleveland Huntington Bank Field Ohio USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xKenxBlazex 20250907_jhp_bk4_0465
NFL, American Football Herren, USA Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns Sep 7, 2025 Cleveland, Ohio, USA Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson 4 during the second half against the Cincinnati Bengals at Huntington Bank Field. Cleveland Huntington Bank Field Ohio USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xKenxBlazex 20250907_jhp_bk4_0465
“I’ve gotten really, really good reviews on what he looked like in practice. Some people told me that they felt he was the best quarterback or the most talented quarterback on the field while he was out there."
But will they start him over Shedeur Sanders in case they do not add another QB in the 2026 draft? In another report, Cabot said the Browns might consider starting Watson ahead of Sanders in 2026 if the rookie fails to show potential.
Deshaun Watson can be a mentor at the Browns camp
While recovering from his Achilles injury, reports say Watson has been a great help to rookie Shedeur Sanders and other quarterbacks in camp.
“He’s been really good in the meeting rooms to the point where Bill Musgrave, the quarterbacks coach, has said, I don’t know what we would do without him. You need that veteran presence. I’ve had so many people tell me how important it is to have a veteran quarterback in the room. It’s just important.”
Shedeur Sanders himself had said that he would not reveal what happens behind the scenes, but Watson has been seen helping him on the sidelines. Watson has 3 Pro Bowl participations and 7 years of experience, so he could be a great mentor.
What do you think about his future? Let us know in the comments.
Written by
Reyansh Dubey
Edited by
Siddharth Shirwadkar