If the NFL had to pick the most unstable team in terms of starting last season, the Cleveland Browns would have been the first pick. The quarterback chaos last season left Browns fans and critics spellbound alike. And even worse, the 2026 season does not look any different either.
There have been speculations about who will be the Browns’ starting QB. And for some reason, many believe a veteran deserves a chance over young Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. The veteran is Deshaun Watson. Well, it looks very funny from a statistical standpoint, and insiders have started criticizing the likelihood of the situation.
Insiders Call Out Browns’ Plan to Start Deshaun Watson
The Athletic’s NFL insiders, Jason Lloyd and Zac Jackson, released a back-and-forth analysis column on the future implications for the Browns. The conversation delved into the convoluted quarterback room.
While Jackson strongly opposed starting Watson at quarterback, Lloyd seconded the motion, comparing Watson to Sanders.
Lloyd said, “No matter how fast I run from it, I still keep hearing talk of Deshaun Watson actually running out on the field as the Game 1 starter. Zac, I see no upside in trotting Watson back out there. What am I missing?”
Jackson had the perfect answer. He first added to the conviction that there were indeed industry discussions that supported this stance.
“I’ve been hearing it, too, and I don’t mean in these news conferences. I mean, going back two months during (and around) our standard offseason travels and activities. Lots of people think the Browns really believe they can still get something out of Watson,” Jackson noted.
Jackson then gave a piece of his mind and said, “I call that the definition of insanity, and even if Watson stays healthy and plays OK for a month or so, how does that help the franchise achieve any of its real long-term goals?”
His concerns here are legitimate, considering the team’s current situation. In the 2025 season, Cleveland ranked last (32nd) in the PFSN’s NFL Offense Impact Metric. If this trend continues, it will be very upsetting for the fans.
Lloyd put it best: “Nothing will change with this franchise until the Browns solve the quarterback question.”
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He added, “Playing Watson ahead of Shedeur Sanders feels like an admission to me that the organization doesn’t feel Sanders is the one. Which, fine, I tend to agree with them. But if I have to choose between Sanders and Watson, I’m choosing Sanders every time.”
This, for some of the Browns fans out there, would seem like a fair pick as Sanders has shown his poise as a rookie. He might not be up to the mark yet, but he looks promising. The passing game improves only when playmakers are put in real-game situations.
