Thoughts on the Browns’ QB situation …
1. GM Andrew Berry has not been shy in admitting the Browns pivoted to a youth movement after what they viewed as their Super Bowl window closed. Essentially, it closed when Deshaun Watson suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in the second quarter of Game 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals on October 20, 2024. After a second consecutive bountiful draft, the Browns expect to have one of the five-youngest rosters in the league this year. Much of that youth is on offense. So guess what? The longest-tenured Browns player on offense will be … Deshaun Watson. Although he has played only 19 of a possible 68 games because of league suspension or injuries, Watson’s five years on the team are the most among players on offense. Next in line are Cedric Tillman and Dawand Jones, who are entering their fourth seasons.
2. Now put yourself in coach Todd Monken’s shoes. He received his first NFL head coaching opportunity at the age (now) of 60. He was hired ostensibly to revive an offense ranked 32nd and 31st in the NFL the past two seasons. If you were him, would you lean to the most veteran player to lead the offense or would you take a chance on a quarterback – Shedeur Sanders or Dillon Gabriel – with 7 1/2 and 5 1/2 games experience, respectively, and still much to learn?
3. This is just another in a long list of reasons why Watson naturally has an edge – a rather big edge, I say – to win the starting quarterback job. It should not be regarded as “breaking news” that Watson would be viewed as ahead of Sanders and Gabriel at this early juncture of the “competition” — after three voluntary minicamp practices and five weeks of the voluntary spring program. No matter your opinion of Watson, the NFL experience he brings is invaluable to a coach overseeing an offense intentionally made young. I mean, the Browns are paying Watson $46 million in the last year of his contract whether he plays or not. Because of potential salary-cap penalties, Watson cannot be traded or released. Why wouldn’t the Browns play him if he remains healthy and wins the job? Nobody is entitled to the starting job, no matter his popularity with the fans. Remember what Berry said on The Really Big Show on 850 ESPN Cleveland on Monday: “We’re looking for performance. I hate to make it that simple, but that’s what it’s about, ultimately.”
4. The fact is the Browns have been conditioning fans to accept the possibility, if not inevitability, of Watson returning to the field in 2026. It started last year when they cleared him to practice for three weeks in December – the first time he joined his teammates on a field since his second Achilles tendon surgery in January of 2025. Then in March, owner Jimmy Haslam said, “Deshaun has a great chance, [a] fresh start [with an] offensive minded coach, who has, in his past, been able to work with all kinds of different quarterbacks and make him successful. So Deshaun has a great chance to do that now. Let’s see what Deshaun could do. We’re all excited.”
5. On Tuesday, J.W. Johnson, Browns managing partner, appeared on The Really Big Show to hype the ground-breaking ceremony at the Brook Park stadium project on Thursday. Towards the end of the interview and without prompting, Johnson made these comments about Watson: “Deshaun looks great, by the way. He’s done a great job. He looks healthy. He’s in a great headspace. We’ll see how it all shakes out. There is an ongoing competition, but, you know, he’s got nothing to lose and if he’s our starting quarterback, I know there are people that probably won’t be supportive, but they need to be supportive as much as they can.”
6. Johnson’s comments at the end were the most relevant. He said, “And if he plays great, awesome. If he doesn’t, it is what it is, and we’re looking ahead to the future.” I don’t foresee a world in which Watson receives a new contract in 2027 no matter how well he performs if he is the starter in 2026. If the Minnesota Vikings can let Sam Darnold move on after a 14-3 record as starter in 2024 …
7. The addition of fullback Michael Burton on Tuesday probably is not the Browns’ last veteran transaction. I see possibilities for veteran additions at defensive end and nickel back. Right now, the depth behind starting ends Myles Garrett and Alex Wright is sketchy beyond fourth-year vet Isaiah McGuire. The present nickel back competition includes 2024 seventh-round pick Myles Harden; Myles Bryant, who’s had 20 NFL starts in 77 games with New England and Houston; and Tre Avery, who has 48 games with the Titans and Browns. The three of them have four career interceptions combined – all by Bryant.