Ex-Browns WR tips Deshaun Watson as possible quarterback relief for Kansas City Chiefs, ‘I could see…’

Deshaun Watson has seen things take a turn in his last half-decade in the NFL, but one former Browns WR has opened the door to a recovery.

Despite the blowout Super Bowl loss to Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes has the most stable job in the NFL. His $500 million deal runs through the 2031 season.\

However, that doesn’t mean the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback room will remain the same forever. Carson Wentz and Chad Henne are just two names that have come and gone on Patrick Mahomes’ watch.

Of course, at the same time, Deshaun Watson’s job has suddenly become the least stable in the NFL, despite getting compared to Mahomes at his peak. With his run with the Browns seemingly over, the question is now where Watson will play next and when he will be sent there.

One former member of the Browns organization had his best guess.

Steve Sanders opens door to Deshaun Watson joining Chiefs

Speaking to Chiefs Wire in an April 18 article, former Browns receiver Steve Sanders opened the possibility of Watson joining Patrick Mahomes. He also used the term “maybe” while describing whether Deshaun Watson could challenge Mahomes’ starting job.

Steve Sanders explained: “I think Deshaun Watson goes to a team where he can probably sit behind the starter [and] learn a little bit, similar to let’s say, what Geno Smith did with Russell Wilson. Eventually, the talent you develop and his confidence will return. Because I think his confidence was shaken a lot,” he said.

He added: “He’s overcoming some injuries, but I could see Andy Reid taking a flyer on Watson and bringing him in as a backup quarterback. Maybe he won’t take over for Mahomes.”

“Still, with the experience and confidence he gets in playing with, developing, and being in meetings with Andy Reid and Mahomes, he’ll be ready to go to another team after a year or two and succeed,” he said.

Of course, the Geno Smith-Russell Wilson comparison suggests a different reality altogether for the current Raiders quarterback, suggesting that Smith was fixed before he joined Pete Carroll in 2020 after missing the 2019 season. Smith’s most recent team before that was the Los Angeles Chargers, who happened to go 12-4 that year as Smith sat in the background behind Philip Rivers.

Either way, for Watson to join the Chiefs, it’s going to take jumping through hoops.

How and when Deshaun Watson could join Chiefs

The biggest obstacle to transitioning away from Deshaun Watson is the contract. The deal is fully guaranteed, meaning that Watson will get the full amount due no matter what happens.

The Browns have every reason to try offloading the cap onto another team in a trade scenario. However, there might not be a ton of interest in taking on a quarterback who hasn’t had a respectable season since 2020.

As such, if the team can’t find a trade partner, they’ll have no choice but to release him as soon as he’s healthy. Watson is still recovering from a second Achilles tear, so the wait will continue into the 2025 season. However, either a trade or a release at that time makes sense.

Then, after that takes place, Watson will be free to choose his next destination at his leisure. That could be in 2026. The Chiefs have Gardner Minshew under contract for 2025 and 2026, so it would likely set the stage for a backup quarterback competition.

On the other hand, the nearly age 30 quarterback could also walk off into the sunset if he refuses to take part in the demotion.