The Cleveland Browns signed Tyler Huntley this week, making him the sixth quarterback on the roster, including Deshaun Watson.
Watson remains an expensive, but inactive, part of the Browns’ quarterback room. The Browns traded for Watson in 2022, quickly signing him to a fully guaranteed $230 million contract. That runs through the 2026 season.
Watson is often forgotten when discussing the Browns’ quarterback competition, which for most of training camp has been a four-man battle between veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, as well as rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Watson is currently recovering from an Achilles injury that is expected to keep him out most, if not all, of next season.
However, there’s a chance Watson will feel he’s healthy enough to play this season, which could turn into a complicated situation for the Browns.
“At some point, he’ll be healthy. At some point, he’ll be cleared. What happens when he shows up with a piece of paper in hand that tells the world he’s ready to play?” Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk said. “The Browns may prefer to stash him on the physically unable to perform list, for all of 2025. They owe him the money whether he’s on the roster or not. They qualify for maximum insurance coverage (and eventually cap relief) if he can’t play.”
Browns Called Deshaun Watson Trade ‘Swing and Miss’
Watson has no motivation to do the Browns any favors. Earlier this offseason, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam called the failed blockbuster for Watson a “swing and miss,” signaling publicly for the first time that the team had moved on.
“We took a big swing-and-miss with Deshaun,” Haslam said. “We thought we had the quarterback; we didn’t. And we gave up a lot of draft picks to get him, so we’ve got to dig ourselves out of that hole.”
Watson has been documenting his recovery on social media, making it clear he intends to return. He’d likely want to do it sooner rather than later.
“Why would Watson want to do Haslam any favors? Watson wants to prove Haslam wrong. The best way to do that will be to show up and play. And play well,” Florio said. “So, yes, the mess the Browns have at quarterback can still get worse. It will if/when Watson shows up and says he’s ready to play.”
Deshaun Watson Made Trip to Carolina With Browns
Watson has been staying involved despite being unable to get on the field. Gabriel and Sanders have both been complimentary about having him available as a resource.
“He’s been a guy I’ve connected with as well, and he’s actually a guy I sit by in our O-line meetings, even in our offensive unit meetings,” Gabriel said during minicamp. “So just being able to be around him and nudge him and ask a question, whether it’s for confirmation or his thought, but also when we’re talking through concepts, I think it’s super cool that we do have five guys in the room that kind of can speak to their own experienc … Appreciate him a bunch too. Just sharing all his knowledge.”
Watson made the trip with the Browns to Carolina for the first joint practice with the Panthers on Wednesday. He watched from the field as the Browns’ quarterbacks worked against Carolina.
The team’s first preseason game against the Panthers is set for Friday.
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