NFL news: Browns’ Deshaun Watson finds support from team owner
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Deshaun Watson’s tenure with the Cleveland Browns was one to forget.
The Browns acquired Watson from the Houston Texans before the 2022 season, signing him to a five-year, $230 million deal; this became the richest deal for a quarterback at the time. However, his unavailability due to injuries and his performance on the field led the organization to restructure the deal.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson watches from the sideline during the second half against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
He played just 19 games for the Browns in his first four seasons; Cleveland, on the other hand, employed numerous quarterbacks like Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders and others as a temporary solution to a long-term problem.
Still, Browns co-owner Jimmy Haslam has an optimistic outlook for Watson.
“Deshaun has a great opportunity, he’s a fresh start, he’s an offensive-minded coach, he’s had a history of working with all kinds of different quarterbacks and making them successful,” he told reporters at the NFL’s annual meeting on Monday. via ESPN.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) practices during minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 12, 2025. (Ken Blaze/Imagn Images)
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“So, Deshaun has a great chance to do that now. We talked to him the other day, he said he’s at (the least) weight he’s been in a couple of years. He’s in great shape, he’ll be on April 7 when we start (the offseason training program) (in Cleveland). Let’s see what Deshaun can do. We’re all excited.”
Browns general manager Andrew Berry previously said every Browns quarterback on the roster would compete for the starting job. The depth chart currently includes Watson, Sanders and Gabriel. It’s unclear whether Cleveland will target another quarterback in the upcoming draft.
Watson missed the entire 2025 season after re-rupturing his Achilles in the summer of that year.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) throws a pass in the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Huntington Bank Field on October 20, 2024. (Ken Blaze/Imagn Images)
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He ranks in the top 9-10 in Cleveland with 3,365 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and 70 sacks.
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