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Deshaun Watson’s tenure with the Cleveland Browns was unforgettable.
The Browns acquired Watson from the Houston Texans before the 2022 season and signed him to a five-year, $230 million contract, marking the richest deal for a quarterback at the time. But his lack of availability due to injuries and his play on the field forced the organization to restructure his contract.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson watches from the sidelines against the Las Vegas Raiders in the second half at Allegiant Stadium on November 23, 2025. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
He played in just 19 games with the Browns in his first four seasons, as Cleveland brought in multiple quarterbacks, including Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders and others to try to find a temporary solution to a long-term problem.
Still, Browns co-owner Jimmy Haslam is optimistic about Watson.
“Deshaun has a great opportunity, a fresh start, an offensive-minded coach, who has in his past been able to work with all kinds of different quarterbacks and make them successful,” he told reporters at the NFL’s annual meeting Monday, via ESPN.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) practices during mini-camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 12, 2025. (Ken Blaze/Imagn Images)
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“So Deshaun has a great chance to do it now. We talked to him the other day, he said he weighed the (lightest) he’s been in several years. He’s in great shape, he’ll be (in Cleveland) April 7 when we start (the offseason training program). Let’s see what Deshaun can do. We’re all excited.”
Browns general manager Andrew Berry previously said every Browns quarterback on the roster will compete for the starting job. Right now, the depth chart includes Watson, Sanders and Gabriel. It’s unclear if Cleveland would target another quarterback in the upcoming draft.
Watson missed the entire 2025 season after rupturing his Achilles during the offseason that year.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Huntington Bank Field on October 20, 2024. (Ken Blaze/Imagn Images)
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He is 9-10 as a starter for Cleveland with 3,365 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and 70 sacks.
