The Cleveland Browns are in one of the NFL’s most bizarre quarterback situations. Their roster features some of the most polarizing signal-callers in the league, and there’s still no clear starter in sight.
After making one of the worst trades in NFL history for Deshaun Watson, the three-time Pro Bowler certainly hasn’t paid off the way they hoped. Following the blockbuster deal, Watson served an 11-game suspension in 2022 stemming from sexual harassment allegations.
In 2023 and 2024, he played fewer than half the games each season due to season-ending injuries. With two torn Achilles on his record, most assumed Watson’s time in Cleveland — and possibly the NFL — was over. But no one told Watson that. His recovery has started to turn heads.
Could Deshaun Watson’s Recovery Keep the Other QBs at Bay?
The Browns were so unsure about Watson playing in 2025 that they started stockpiling quarterbacks, trading for Kenny Pickett and signing Joe Flacco.
Cleveland was closely tied to former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders during the predraft process. So when the Browns — and the rest of the league — passed on Sanders and instead traded their No. 2 overall pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars, it surprised everyone.
With the fifth pick, the Browns selected defensive tackle Mason Graham. They waited until the third round to grab Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel. Then in the fifth, they shocked the NFL world by drafting Sanders, who had fallen further than anyone expected.
𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗦: Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel will take the No. 1 and No. 2 reps for the Browns when OTAs open, per @MaryKayCabot
"In terms of their battling order in team drills, it will likely be Pickett and Gabriel No.1 and No.2 than Flacco and Sanders splitting the No.3… pic.twitter.com/ZptBfqXW4c
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman)
That move created a wild four-man quarterback competition nobody saw coming. Reports have swirled that Pickett is expected to start, Gabriel could be QB2, and Flacco and Sanders are likely battling for the QB3/4 role. But now Watson is back in the mix, complicating things.
Recently, Watson was seen throwing to Jerry Jeudy and David Bell at the Browns’ facility. He’s been out of his walking boot for weeks and posted workout photos with teammates on Instagram.
This makes Cleveland’s already messy quarterback situation even more tenuous. Most teams carry three quarterbacks — four at most — so someone likely has to go before final roster cuts.
Watson’s Situation Has Major Financial Implications for the Browns
If Watson proves healthy enough to play, the Browns could find themselves in an awkward spot. Owner Jimmy Haslam called the trade a bust, saying, “We took a big swing and a miss with Deshaun.”
Watson has been clear in both his words and deeds that he wants to play again. But keeping him on the PUP list would benefit the Browns financially. The team has an insurance policy that would pay out $58.176 million if Watson is unable to perform due to injury.
Naturally, the insurance provider is expected to fight that payout. The case could tilt in his favor if Watson can convincingly show he’s ready to play while the Browns attempt to stash him on the PUP list.
All eyes are on Cleveland as this quarterback saga unfolds. Who ultimately wins the job — and who ends up elsewhere — remains one of the offseason’s most fascinating storylines.
