The Cleveland Browns are making the bizarre choice of keeping three quarterbacks on their roster when entering the 2026 NFL season, alongside a fourth, Dillon Gabriel, on the injured reserve list.
After months of speculation and a full-fledged battle for the QB1 spot, Deshaun Watson was named the starting quarterback. However, the move was extremely unpopular with most of the fan base.
As a result, the choice to keep three other QBs is a safety net if things go wrong for head coach Todd Monken with his chosen starter.
Todd Monken Preparing for the Worst of Deshaun Watson
Entering the final year of his fully guaranteed $230 million contract, the Browns haven’t gotten much from Watson whenever he has been on the field. Suiting up in 19 games, he has tallied just 19 touchdowns against 12 interceptions.
The last time he was under center for them, back in 2024, he finished dead last on PFN’s Quarterback Impact Metrics. Add in his comments against the Browns faithful and he hasn’t endeared himself to the fans one bit.
As a result, the choice to name him starter in Week 1 left everyone puzzled. However, superstar cornerback Asante Samuel, on the latest episode of “Say What Needs To Be Said,” explained the thought process from Monken.
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“He should have just told us straight up. He’s using a loophole to keep all of his quarterbacks. All these decisions are predicated around the $40 million quarterback, Deshaun Watson. It’s hard to say Deshaun Watson is worth keeping around when you have three young quarterbacks that are capable.”
As a result, Samuel argued that Monken was trying to have his cake and eat it too. “Todd Monken is keeping Dillon Gabriel around so when [expletive] hits the fan with Watson, he can put Dillon Gabriel right back in the mix right where he left off.”
Asante Suggest Todd Monken Placed Dillon Gabriel On IR Awaiting DeShaun Watson’s Slip Up pic.twitter.com/E4qKTyObJo
— Say What Needs To Be Said (@saywhatneedsto) September 1, 2026
Samuel believes that would allow Monken to wash his hands off Watson while also helping him fix the cap space situation that has plagued the Browns.
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“That money is putting a wrench in all the necessary moves Todd Monken wants to make as the head coach.”
It remains to be seen if the plan at quarterback changes as the season moves along.
All of it is going to depend on how Watson performs. But the expectation has been that the team is waiting for the 2027 NFL Draft to find its potential long-term solution.
