Jason Burgos
Even if Deshaun Watson has a big bounceback season in 2026, a top NFL insider proclaims there is no chance the Cleveland Browns will try to re-sign him.
To the dismay of Browns fans, there is a very real chance that Watson will be the team’s starting quarterback this season. The idea sends a shiver down the spine of Cleveland supporters because the three-time Pro Bowl has been an absolute disaster for the franchise.
After arriving in 2022 with a fully guaranteed $230 million contract, Watson has played in just 19 games and missed all of the 2025 season to recover from a ruptured Achilles tendon he suffered the year before. Yet, when he did play, he seemed like a shell of the player fans saw with the Houston Texans. Posting a 9-10 record as a starter and 19 touchdowns to 12 interceptions.
The Browns took a big risk by trading for Watson, despite an ugly sexual assault scandal. The risk did not pay off and actually backfired on them because his contract was an anchor on their payroll and untradable.
No chance Browns re-sign Deshaun Watson after bounce back season
Yet, because of Cleveland’s underwhelming QB room, Watson has a strong chance to be new head coach Todd Monken’s choice to be their Week 1 starter. While it isn’t expected, it isn’t impossible that Watson could have a great season in 2026. He is still only 30 years old, and the team’s new system could help him recapture his Pro Bowl form.
So, does that mean the Browns might re-sign Deshaun Watson if he has a strong showing next season? Not a chance, claims ESPN’s Dan Graziano.
“Now, I want to be clear: I do not think there’s a world in which Watson plays well enough this season to convince the Browns to re-sign him and move forward with him as their franchise QB of the future. He turns 31 in September. The contract has been a complete catastrophe in every possible way. And the team’s owner has admitted as much publicly.”
-Dan Graziano
Rest easy, Browns fans. Even if Deshaun Watson has a big year in 2026, this will be his last in Cleveland.
