#Heytony: Will Deshaun Watson See The Field In 2026?

Deshaun Watson should be healthy and ready to go when the Browns get back on the practice field this summer.

Deshaun Watson should be healthy and ready to go when the Browns get back on the practice field this summer.


#HeyTony: Will Deshaun Watson see the field in 2026?

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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.

Hey Tony: Does Deshaun Watson see the field in the regular season?

-- Greg, Westlake, OH

Hey Greg: If healthy, I would say yes. They’re paying him $46 million for the fifth and last year. Why wouldn’t they try to get at least some return on that lost investment? If not at the beginning then certainly at some point. The Browns usually go through 3+ quarterbacks per season.

Hey Tony: With all the talk of drafting a QB, whether early or late-round developmental, wouldn’t that put us in the same challenge of splitting camp reps (without jettisoning Gabriel, Sanders, both)?

-- Matt, Columbus, OH

Hey Matt: My early read on this is the Browns will devote Todd Monken’s first year as head coach to seeing what they really have in Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson will be the veteran QB. A mid- to late-round quarterback is possible, but would not interfere with the stated objective. Dillon Gabriel seems to be the forgotten man, but would compete in training camp. GM Andrew Berry seems to trade a quarterback every summer and Gabriel could be the guy this year.

Hey Tony: With Kevin Stefanski gone & our O-Line in need of help, any chance Wyatt Teller is out of the dog house and back with a hometown deal next year?

-- Mike, Byron, NY

Hey Mike: Anything is possible, but I doubt it. Stefanski didn’t make personnel decisions. If Andrew Berry wanted Teller back, he would have extended him before the 2025 season ended.

Hey Tony: Do you believe that if the Browns would have beaten the Titans and the Jets that Kevin Stefanski would still be the head coach of this football team?

-- Ron, Highland Heights, OH

Hey Ron: Those two games would have made the final record 7-10, and, yes, that would have been enough to save Stefanski’s job.

Hey Tony: What do you think about the new special teams coordinator Byron Storer?

-- Jeff, Louisville, OH

Hey Jeff: He’s paid his dues as a special teams assistant with three different teams. People say he’s ready to be a coordinator.

Hey Tony: I havent heard anything about JOK in a long time. Is he officially done with football or might he still make a comeback?

-- Phil, Corvallis, OR

Hey Phil: I believe the Browns are leaving it up to JOK to make that announcement.

Hey Tony: Could Davis Mills be a trade candidate to compete for QB spot?

-- Cory, Columbus, OH

Hey Cory: My feeling is there should be an embargo blocking any more Browns trades with Houston.

Hey Tony: Are we in a spot in the first round of the draft where we could trade back and pick up extra picks? 

-- AJ, Avon, OH

Hey AJ: At this point, I can see them trading back from No. 6 and trading up from No. 24.

Hey Tony: Is there any way the defense performs as well as last year if Monken goes with one of the coordinators that runs a different defense than Schwartz?

-- Kyle, Celina, OH

Hey Kyle: Monken was spot on when he said the team on defense has been built for the Schwartz system. Any deviation from that may have counterproductive results.

Hey Tony: Should the Browns consider RB Jeremiyah Love in the top 10 of this draft? You seemed concerned re Judkins injury history.

-- Lawrence, Ada, OH

Hey Lawrence: Judkins had surgery on December 23 to repair a fractured fibula and dislocated ankle. Seems to me that two major injuries on the same leg could be a problem for a running back. Still, I wouldn’t expect Love to be in the Browns’ draft plans.

Hey Tony: With at least 3 positions on the O-Line needing new starters, do you take a swing at bringing Jed Wills back to compete for a spot even if at RT?

-- Patrick, Wooster, OH

Hey Patrick: Hard pass.

Hey Tony: What are the odds Browns do anything besides prevailing wisdom of drafting WR/OT or OT/WR?

-- Eric, Rock Hill, SC

Hey Eric: I would think other possibility would be to trade down from No. 6 and trade up from No. 24. But receiver/tackle still would be in play.

Hey Tony: Odds the Browns will win the AFC North at least once before moving to the Brook Park Barndominum in 2029?

-- Alex, Valley View, OH

Hey Alex: Not good.