Todd Monken has finally named his starting quarterback for the season. The Browns’ head coach has opted for experience, settling on Deshaun Watson, despite all his struggles, as the go-to QB for the year.
The Watson-Monken era is yet to begin in the NFL, but former Cincinnati Bengals star Chad Johnson already believes he knows how this ends.
Browns’ Home Opener Could Decide Deshaun Watson’s Fate
The former Bengals wide receiver laid out his theory on the latest episode of the “Nightcap” podcast, sitting alongside Shannon Sharpe and Joe Johnson.
Cleveland named Watson the starter over Shedeur Sanders on Monday, but Ochocinco isn’t buying it as a long-term plan.
“Mark my words, I haven’t been wrong yet. Since basketball season. I haven’t been wrong yet,” Johnson said, expressing confidence in his assessment.
Shannon Sharpe and chad ochocinco believe the owners of the Cleveland browns told head coach Todd Monken that he had to start Deshaun Watson over shedeur sanders to start week 1 because of what they are paying him pic.twitter.com/Cjo8Psr8Jq
— NBA Hoops (@Thechat101) August 25, 2026
“I’m not saying he [Monken] is a puppet. I’m not saying that,” he explained. “But I knew all along for one reason that Deshaun was going to start, simply because of the money that’s owed to him this season. That’s it.”
BE THE GM OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM: PFN’s Free NFL Mock Draft Simulator
Johnson had earlier said that he believed Watson’s contract would ultimately be the deciding factor in the Browns QB race.
Watson is still on the fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million deal Cleveland handed him back in 2022. Johnson argues that the number is hard to ignore when decisions get made in the front office.
“Understanding that Todd Monken is in a tough position, he can’t answer the question like he really wants to answer it,” Johnson said. He pointed out that the numbers don’t back up the coach’s public reasoning. “If you look at the numbers, that’s not the person that gives you the best chance to win.”
Since leaving Houston, Watson has failed to recapture his Pro Bowl form.
START PREPARING: PFN’s Free Fantasy Draft Simulator
He’s gone 9-10 as a starter in Cleveland and has struggled with injuries. His relationship with Browns fans has not been ideal either, as he was booed by the crowd during the preseason.
The Browns open on the road against Jacksonville and Tampa Bay before their home opener against Carolina in Week 3. Johnson thinks that the game is the real test.
“I’m hoping he looks the part,” Johnson said of Watson’s first two starts. But he was blunt about what happens if Cleveland struggles once the team gets home. “If it’s not going well, at that point the change will be made. Mark my words.”
He didn’t let up when Joe Johnson pushed back on the segment.
“I know you’re frustrated because you ain’t been right yet,” Ochocinco said. “But I’m telling you, I’m not trying to be rude or nothing. If the third game does not go the way it should, a change will be made going into Week 4.”
Sanders, who ranked second-last in Pro Football Network’s NFL QB Impact rankings last season, will back up Watson to start the year. But the former Bengals star is convinced the second-year QB will get the chance to replace Watson in the starting lineup sooner rather than later.
