Browns weigh Deshaun Watson’s future after strong start

Deshaun Watson has led the Cleveland Browns to a 4-2 record this season, putting the team in a first-place tie in the AFC North. Through the first six games he has accumulated 1,174 passing yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions. Head coach Todd Monken confirmed Watson as the starter before the season began, a decision that has drawn both praise and criticism from fans.

Newsweek

Watson is under a fully guaranteed $230 million contract that cost Cleveland three first-round draft picks. He missed the majority of the previous season after a major right Achilles-tendon tear in 2024 and a second surgery that kept him out for 38 of 51 games following an 11-game suspension. The sizable contract and his injury record have long been points of concern for the organization.

Newsweek

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam praised Watson’s ability to rebound from injuries and highlighted his role in the team’s early-season victories. The Athletic’s Jonathan Jones reported, citing an anonymous league source, that “the door is wide open” for Cleveland to retain Watson, even if the franchise elects to use one of its two 2027 first-round picks on another quarterback. Monken’s earlier declaration of Watson as the starter underscores the coaching staff’s current confidence in him.

Newsweek

If the Browns choose to keep Watson, they may face demands for compensation comparable to other starting quarterbacks, a negotiation complicated by his injury history and off-field controversies that have been widely reported. Retaining him would also affect roster construction, potentially limiting opportunities for younger quarterbacks drafted in 2024.

Newsweek

There are no confirmed reports that the Browns intend to bring Watson back for the following season. The decision will likely hinge on whether he continues to produce wins. The Browns return to the field this week to face the Tennessee Titans, a matchup that could further shape the franchise’s quarterback plans.

Newsweek