Deshaun Watson made a telling revelation on his future with the Cleveland Browns early in training camp
2026 is an important season for the future of Deshaun Watson’s NFL career. He recently commented on the potential of returning to Cleveland after the season.
The Cleveland Browns quarterback competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders is one of the most compelling quarterback battles in the NFL heading into the 2026 season. Watson and Sanders spent the first week of training camp containing the offseason battle for the right to be Cleveland’s starting quarterback in Week 1 when the Browns open against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The two quarterbacks are on very different timelines. Watson is in the final year of his contract with the Browns, while Sanders is in the second year of his 4-year rookie deal. Watson is playing for his next contract, whether that’s in Cleveland or elsewhere. His 5-year, $230 million deal with the Browns will be fulfilled following the 2026 season, at which point the veteran quarterback will be a free agent.
Watson sounds open to staying in Cleveland
Watson was asked about whether he believes there’s a future in Cleveland after this year, and his response was an interesting one.
“For sure. When I first got here, there was a lot of stuff going on, as the world knows,” Watson stated. “But I don’t have any bad feelings toward Cleveland. I love Cleveland. Me and my wife have our house on the east side, so we’re here all the time. We were here this summer. If you ask around, I’m at pretty much all the restaurants, hanging out, so I haven’t had a bad experience outside of different times in the stadium. I don’t know why that narrative is out there that people think that I don’t like Cleveland. My family and I have been enjoying our time here, if the opportunity shows up, we’ll see where it goes.”
Watson’s tenure with the Browns has been rocky
The Browns and Watson’s past four seasons have not gone how either side had hoped. Watson has played just 19 games and holds a 9-10 record over four complete seasons with Cleveland. He hasn’t played in more than the seven games in one season, which happened during 2024. Watson missed the entire 2025 season repairing an Achilles injury that was then reinjured following an initial surgery.
When Watson has been on the field, the results haven’t been spectacular. The best he’s looked was 2024 when he threw for 1,148 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions in seven games. The Browns went 1-6 in those seven games, and his 63.4 completion percentage was underwhelming considering he wasn’t stretching the defense downfield.
What’s ahead for Watson and the Browns
Watson is vying for the starting job again at a time when many believed he may never suit up for Cleveland again. He’s in the final year of his deal, and there’s a lot to play for. If the Browns offer him a contract after this season, Watson would certainly have to consider a reunion in Cleveland.
That possibility remains unclear, though. Playing out the 2026 season is the single most important thing that has to happen for this team. Cleveland needs to evaluate its current quarterback situation before deciding whether it will be drafting a quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft, which many think the Browns could do.
