- Cleveland Browns. Browns to give Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel a fair shot at snatching label of front-runner from Kenny Pickett
- Cleveland Browns. Deshaun Watson is not worried about Shedeur Sanders taking his job and shows off new tattoo
When the Cleveland Browns traded multiple draft picks and handed Deshaun Watson a record-breaking, fully guaranteed contract, they envisioned him as the long-term answer at quarterback. But just a few seasons later, the reality has not matched the investment.
After a rocky tenure marked by legal issues, a suspension, and inconsistent on-field performances, Watson has slipped from the forefront of Cleveland's quarterback plans.
Deshaun Watson's surprise Instagram post
Heading into 2025, the Browns have loaded up at the position, adding Kenny Pickett, Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, and rookie Shedeur Sanders, who recently inked a four-year deal.
With fans and analysts alike looking ahead to a new era in Cleveland, Watson has largely been sidelined in discussions about the team's future, until now.
On Monday, Watson posted footage on Instagram showing himself throwing es at the Browns' facility, signaling progress in his rehab from Achilles surgery.
According to league sources, he's been out of his walking boot for weeks and has been working with receivers Jerry Jeudy and David Bell indoors at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
The timing of the post appears calculated, subtly reminding the league, and perhaps the Browns, that he's not ready to be counted out just yet.
The QB competition is already fierce.
Flacco brings veteran leadership, Pickett has starting experience, and Gabriel and Sanders represent promising youth.
Sanders, in particular, has generated buzz this offseason with his arm talent and potential, leading some to wonder whether Cleveland has finally found its next franchise leader.
But Watson's return, if serious, complicates that narrative.
Fan reactions have been polarizing.
Many remain vocal in their opposition to Watson's continued presence on the roster, citing both off-field concerns and underwhelming performance.
Still, the front office has not fully closed the door, and the team's significant financial commitment to Watson makes a clean break unlikely without major consequences.
As the summer unfolds, one thing is certain: Deshaun Watson isn't quietly fading into the background.
With the Browns' quarterback room already at capacity, his return could either reignite a comeback story, or bring even more tension to an already complicated situation.