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Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns

There is a reason that the Cleveland Browns want, very badly, to give Deshaun Watson a chance to win the starting quarterback’s job in training camp this year. It’s not so much about winning games in the short term, or even setting up the Browns for the future. It’s pretty much just to show themselves that it’s safe to move on from Watson, that after two Achilles tendon surgeries–and a rough go of things back in 2024 when he was last healthy and on the field–he is truly washed up.

Give the Browns a bit of grace on that. This is the franchise, after all, that handed Watson what is widely considered to be the worst contract in NFL history, a five-year deal that was fully guaranteed and paid Watson $230 million. That full guarantee is the only reason he is still on the roster.

Every Browns backer knows that, for that $230 million, the Browns have gotten just 19 starts, and a 9-10 record from Watson. Since signing that deal (the Browns had to trade for Watson first), Cleveland has used 10 different starters at quarterback.

Deshaun Watson Will Only Be 30 Years Old

But the thing that scares the Browns the most, of course, is the idea of Watson going on to become Baker Mayfield II — a quarterback the Browns gave up on who underwent a subsequent career transformation and became a star elsewhere. Cleveland has watched Mayfield do that in Tampa, the same way the Vikings have seen Sam Darnold win a Super Bowl and the Giants might see Daniel Jones get reborn.

On Thursday, ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler wrote about the issues upcoming around the NFL, and pointed out the path Watson could have to getting a job in 2027. As a starter. Somewhere else.

Wrote Fowler: “Watson is a viable option to start for Cleveland this season if coach Todd Monken opts for veteran experience. The Browns made several improvements to the offense around the quarterback. If Watson can regain his confidence and stay in the lineup, there might be a spot for him to start somewhere in 2027. The QB is 30 years old.

‘The main thing is showing that he can stay healthy,’ an AFC executive said.”

Browns Nightmare Could Manifest

There are a few Browns nightmares at play there. For one thing, if Watson does show enough this season in Cleveland to show he can still be a starter in the NFL, then the question becomes … should the Browns just keep him, and re-sign him? Does Andrew Berry really want to give Watson more money? Does Jimmy Haslam?

That would be a nightmare decision. But so would deciding to let Watson walk if he plays well this season–again, what if he lands with the Jets or (gasp!) Steelers and thrives? What if he replaces Matthew Stafford with the Rams and gets them to the Super Bowl?

But as the exec pointed out, Watson has to first prove he is healthy, and while we have heard plenty about his rehab and how good he looks, he has not faced a pass rush in 20 months. We don’t know that Watson can or will hold up once the action is live.

If he does … well, that could be a nightmare.