Deshaun Watson is in a battle with Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel for the starting quarterback role for the 2026 NFL season.
While some analysts believe Sanders gives the Browns the best chance to win in the upcoming season, others believe the franchise should give Watson a chance, especially because of the massive contract he is under.
Watson signed a five-year, fully guaranteed contract worth $230,000,000 but hasn’t been able to justify it because of various injuries he has faced since then, including the one that made him miss the 2025 season.
After the Browns held their first voluntary training camp on Tuesday, Watson decided to skip the interview with the media, while Sanders and Gabriel did share their thoughts in the post training interviews.
Talking about Watson’s decision to not talk to the media, analysts Nick Wilson and Jonathan Peterlin shared their thoughts. Wilson said:
“If Deshaun doesn’t want to speak in front of the media or he doesn’t want to speak before the fans because his feelings are hurt because of what’s transpired, then ask for your release. Get out of town.
“I just think it’s, I, listen, maybe this is the Browns coddling him, which is fine. If you can’t even be bothered to show up to talk to the media, and again, if he talks to the media tomorrow, this is good. Because if you want to be the face of this organization, show your face.”
Stephen A. Smith Urges Browns To Give Deshaun Watson the Starting QB Role
Stephen A. Smith shared his thoughts on which quarterback should the Browns start for the 2026 NFL season and said while he is inclined to say Sanders’ name, he thinks Watson should get the chance.
The ESPN analyst highlighted on March 31 that Watson has been very bad in the Browns uniform, however, because of the money he has gotten from the franchise, he believes the veteran QB should be given the chance.
“I’m not saying start him without him showing what he can do in training camp and preseason, but I’m praying and hoping that he lives up to his billing to some degree,” Smith added.
Smith also recalled how Watson was second to Patrick Mahomes in the QB list during his time in Houston.
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That Watson (86.0 PFSN NFL QB Impact in 2020) is what the Browns paid for, and a resurrection would be one of the biggest turnarounds we’ve seen in NFL history.
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