Adam Schefter adds fuel to the fire around who the Cleveland Browns may have starting at quarterback in 2026
The Browns have a big decision to make at quarterback and Deshaun Watson is definitely in the mix.
The Cleveland Browns are working through an important offseason in what is the first year for new head coach Todd Monken. Free agency is going on now and the quarterback decision on who the starter is could be impacted by what the Browns do now.
Cleveland very well could add a veteran quarterback to compete for the starting job, it seems like the most likely route to adding another quarterback after drafting two rookies a year ago. But there is some belief that the Browns already have their 2026 starter on the roster.
Adam Schefter name-drops Deshaun Watson on The Pat McAfee Show
Now fully healthy, the Browns are going to have Watson around for at least one more season. Cleveland has already converted $44.7 million of his salary into a bonus and they cleared $35.76 million in cap space by doing it. Since he’s on the roster, and there’s a new head coach in town, there’s a belief Watson could be the starter in 2026.
“There are people out there, and we’ll see how it unfolds, but there are people out there who believe that Deshawn Watson could very well be the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on The Pat McAfee Show.
Watson missed all of the 2025 season and only played in seven games during the 2024 season before he suffered an Achilles injury. Watson then reinjured the Achilles and spent all of last season on the sidelines. Through four seasons with the Browns between suspension and injury, Watson has played in just 19 games with a 9-10 record to show for it.
In the seven games played in 2024, Watson completed 63 percent of his passes for 1,148 passing yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions. The 30-year-old quarterback has shown nothing close to the level of play he was at in 2020 when he led the league in passing with 4,823 yards and 33 touchdowns to just seven interceptions.
Cleveland is going to have a quarterback competition between Watson, Shedeur Sanders, and another quarterback likely not on the team. Sanders looks to have the leg up on QB Dillon Gabriel with how last season played out for both players as rookies.
It’s a quarterback battle Todd Monken wants to have settled by training camp so the starter can get the majority of the reps leading up to the season. Cleveland hasn’t always gone the same route, but it makes the most sense.
Cleveland can’t cut Watson financially until after the season, so he’s going to be in the mix for the job no matter what folks think. If he can regain form and play well, he would turn a lot of opinions around on him and the Browns for that matter.
Cleveland Browns News
Cleveland Browns were aggressively after a top free agent starter, but he’s set to sign with an AFC power
The Browns would have been better off as a team if they were able to land a top OL over the New England Patriots.
