The Cleveland Browns’ quarterback competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders has been one of the biggest storylines in the NFL this offseason. Head coach Todd Monken refused to name the QB1 after minicamp, with neither player separating himself enough to claim the starting job.
However, most around the league expect Watson to open the season as the starting quarterback, given the financial investment Cleveland has made, and general manager Andrew Berry just made the picture even more interesting.
Andrew Berry Refuses To Rule Out a Contract Extension for Deshaun Watson
Berry appeared on “92.3 The Fan” and was asked directly whether Watson could get a “contract extension” after this season.
“I think everything’s on the table,” Berry said. “I think it would be silly to go into a season and say, ‘Hey, something absolutely can or cannot happen.’ I think, particularly at the quarterback position, we’ve seen it with guys, whether it’s Sam Darnold or Daniel Jones or Geno Smith, or even Baker after he left us.”
“So, I think you have to be open-minded and flexible, but I wouldn’t rule out anything,” Berry added. “We’re looking for guys who can perform and who can lead.”
“I think everything’s on the table. I think it would be silly to go into the season and say something absolutely can or cannot happen and I think, particularly, at the QB position. I think you have to be open-minded and flexible. I wouldn’t rule out anything.”
🚨 #Browns GM… pic.twitter.com/UTCK2dr338
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) June 12, 2026
Berry’s willingness to entertain the idea speaks to how much the Browns need Watson to justify the five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract they handed him in March 2022. The 30-year-old quarterback is entering the final year of that deal, and Cleveland wants to extract whatever value it can from that investment before deciding his long-term future.
For Watson to earn that kind of commitment, he would need to resemble the quarterback who earned three consecutive Pro Bowl selections in Houston.
With the Texans, Watson posted a 104.5 passer rating with 14,539 yards, 104 touchdowns, and 36 interceptions across 54 games, including a league-leading 4,823 passing yards in 2020. During that season, according to PFSN’s QB Impact Metric, he posted an impact score of 86.0, ranking fifth in the league.
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In Cleveland, those numbers have cratered to an 80.7 passer rating with 3,365 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in just 19 games.
An Achilles tear suffered against Cincinnati on October 20, 2024, has kept Watson off the field for nearly 20 months, and returning from that injury at 30 years old adds another layer of uncertainty.
However, Berry’s comments suggest Watson will get every opportunity to prove himself before any decision is made. If he can recapture even a fraction of his Houston-era production, a contract extension isn’t out of the question.
If he can’t, Sanders is waiting, as the former Colorado star showed raw upside in seven starts as a rookie. Watson’s window to save his NFL career is narrow, and the 2026 season will determine whether Cleveland doubles down on him or moves on.
