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Deshaun Watson

#4 QB / Cleveland Browns / EXP: 10YRS Height: 6-3 Weight: 223 lb Age: 30 College: Clemson Bye 11
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9%
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QB Rank
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  • by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

    Browns' Deshaun Watson: First QB through drills

    Deshaun Watson was the first QB through the rotation at Wednesday's practice, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.Watson took the first snap in individual drills and 7-on-7s, but Shedeur Sanders then went first in 11-on-11s, per Zac Jackson of The Athletic. The two split first-team snaps for the rest of the session, with Watson then taking over at the end for a hurry-up simulation. For individual drills, Sanders was second through the rotation, with Dillon Gabriel going third and Taylen Green predictably last. It's more or less what was expected, given that Watson has 72 NFL starts to his name and is competing with a trio of mid-round picks from the past two drafts. What's less clear is if the initial position means anything beyond deference to age/experience. Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken seems to take Sanders seriously as a candidate for the starting job, and it wouldn't be surprising to see Gabriel (or even Green) take some first-team reps as well.

  • by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

    Browns' Deshaun Watson: Monken says no leader in QB battle

    Head coach Todd Monken said Friday that a leader has yet to emerge in the quarterback competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.Watson and Sanders rotated first-team opportunities during Cleveland's three-day voluntary minicamp, with Watson usually first in line for drills but Sanders taking more total reps. Monken has maintained that he would like to name a starting quarterback before the Cleveland Browns open training camp in late July, but the coach said that it's too early in the process to make that decision at this point.

  • by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

    Browns' Deshaun Watson: May have inside track for QB1

    Deshaun Watson reportedly emerged from last week's voluntary minicamp with an edge over Shedeur Sanders in the Cleveland Browns' quarterback competition, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.The report notes that coach Todd Monken hopes to identify the team's starter by the end of Browns minicamp June 9-11, with Watson and Sanders viewed as the top two contenders for the role, while Dillon Gabriel and 2026 sixth-rounder Taylen Green are also in the mix to a lesser degree. Per Cabot, at this stage Watson --- who didn't see game action in 2025 due to an Achilles' injury -- appears to have the inside track to the assignment, but Sanders still has time to close the gap before Monken makes the call. In any case, the signal caller that ultimately gets the nod will be in line to helm a Cleveland passing offense that returns WRs Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman, as well as TE Harold Fannin, and is also set to welcome a pair of talented rookie wideouts in KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston.

  • by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

    Browns' Deshaun Watson: Firmly in mix for starting gig

    Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said Monday at the NFL owners' meetings that Deshaun Watson (Achilles) has a "great chance" to compete for the team's No. 1 quarterback job this season, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.Haslam called this offseason a "fresh start" for Watson, who last saw NFL action October 2024 before suffering a torn Achilles tendon. The 30-year-old re-ruptured the same tendon in January 2025 and missed all of last season. Watson is heading into the final year of the five-year, $230 million deal he inked in 2022, and in early March he agreed to restructure his contract to clear roughly $35 million in cap space. Barring any additions to the QB room, Watson's main competition will be Shedeur Sanders, with Dillon Gabriel also on the depth chart. Watson is presumably now healthy, as the Browns opened his 21-day practice window in December and allowed him to practice in a limited capacity. Per Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN, Haslam said Watson will be present for the start of voluntary workouts April 7.

  • by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

    Browns' Deshaun Watson: Freeing up cap space

    Deshaun Watson (Achilles) agreed to terms Friday on a restructured contract with the Cleveland Browns that converts a portion of his $80.71 million cap hit for the 2026 season into bonuses, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.Watson's restructure provides Cleveland with increased flexibility ahead of the start of the legal tampering period March 9. The 30-year-old quarterback is heading into the final year of the fully guaranteed five-year contract he inked with the Browns back in 2022, and Cabot reports that Watson is now back to full health after having undergone two surgeries to repair the right Achilles tendon he re-ruptured after the 2024 season. Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry recently named both Watson and Shedeur Sanders as candidates to compete for the team's starting quarterback job in 2026, per Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.

  • by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

    Browns' Deshaun Watson: Among starter candidates

    Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry is not committing to naming a starting quarterback but included Deshaun Watson (ankle) as a candidate, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.Berry indicated Watson and Shedeur Sanders will be among those competing for the starting quartebrack job. There are likely to be other names in the mix, whether that be via trade, free agency or the draft. Neither Berry nor new head coach Todd Monken are in a rush to provide details.

  • by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

    Browns' Deshaun Watson: Not being activated this season

    Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed Tuesday that the Browns will not activate Deshaun Watson (Achilles) from the reserve/PUP list this season, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.Watson tore his right Achilles tendon in October of last season, then subsequently re-ruptured the tendon and required another surgery Jan. 9. The veteran quarterback had made enough progress in his recovery for the Browns to clear him to practice Dec. 3, but Watson was always viewed as a longshot to be activated at any point in 2025. With his 21-day evaluation window officially coming to a close Tuesday, Watson wasn't reinstated and won't be eligible to practice with the team over the final two weeks of the season. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Cleveland is expected to keep Watson on the roster in 2026, the final year of his five-year, $230 million deal. Watson hasn't played in a game since Week 10 of the 2024 campaign, and it's unclear if the Browns will seriously consider him for a starting role if he's indeed on the team next season.

  • by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

    Browns' Deshaun Watson: Roster decision coming next week

    Deshaun Watson (Achilles) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Bills, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.Per Oyefusi, coach Kevin Stefanski said the Cleveland Browns will make a decision on whether to add Watson back to the active roster prior to the team's Week 17 game against Pittsburgh. An official transaction activating Watson from the reserve/PUP list will have to be made by next Tuesday, or Watson will be ineligible to play this season. Shedeur Sanders will start Sunday against the Bills.

  • by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

    Browns' Deshaun Watson: Unlikely to play this season

    Deshaun Watson (Achilles) isn't expected to play at any point this season, but Cleveland plans to keep the veteran quarterback on its roster in 2026, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.Watson was designated for return from the PUP list Wednesday and logged a trio of limited practices this week. While Watson's presence at practice seems to indicate that the 2017 first-round draft pick has reached the final stage in his recovery from a re-ruptured right Achilles tendon, the Cleveland Browns appear content to keep him out of games amid a season in which they've relied primarily on rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders to handle quarterback duties. Though Cleveland is leaning toward keeping Watson around for next season, that doesn't necessarily mean he'll reclaim a starting role. Schefter notes that money is part of the reason why the Browns expect Watson back, and also indicates that the team values his veteran presence around the rookie signal-callers. The Browns would incur a dead-cap salary charge of close to $135 million if Watson were released before June 1 and a $53 million charge if he were designated as a post-June 1 cut.

  • by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

    Browns' Deshaun Watson: Out for Week 14

    Deshaun Watson (Achilles) has been ruled out for Sunday's contest against the Titans, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.The Cleveland Browns opened Watson's 21-day practice window Wednesday to return from the PUP list, which is where he's resided since the start of training camp after undergoing a second surgery in early January to address a re-rupture of his right Achilles. He strung together limited showings in practice this week, but even if he gets medical clearance to play, he might not surpass rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel on the depth chart.

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