NFL analyst Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report thinks it’s “extremely difficult” to see Deshaun Watson redeeming himself in 2026.

Watson is expected to be the Cleveland Browns‘ starting QB next season. The veteran hasn’t played since 2024. He missed all of last season recovering from his Achilles tear.

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“The Browns might not be ready to give up on Watson, a now-healthy three-time Pro Bowler who is still only 30. But it’s extremely difficult to imagine the 2017 first-round pick suddenly redeeming himself at this point,” Gangon wrote.

“Since the end of the 2020 season, Watson has thrown 19 total touchdown passes in 19 starts over a span of half a decade. He’s coming off a serious Achilles injury that cost him his entire 2025 campaign, but he struggled to stay on the field in the previous three seasons as well.”

Watson emerged from the Browns’ voluntary minicamp as the favorite to be the team’s starting quarterback. The former Houston Texans star has the inside track to be Cleveland’s QB1 in 2026.

Suspension and injuries have limited Watson to 19 games since he arrived in Cleveland. Since making his Browns debut, Watson has posted a 33.1 Total QBR, the lowest among qualified passers.

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A Clemson product, Watson has 3,365 passing yards and 19 passing touchdowns with Cleveland. He’s thrown 12 interceptions.

Watson has 17,904 passing yards and 123 passing touchdowns in the NFL with the Texans and Browns. He was the 12th overall pick in the 2017 draft.

The Browns restructured Watson’s contract in March. Cleveland freed up close to $36 million in cap space. Watson was set to have an $80.7 million cap hit in 2026, the largest in the NFL. He signed a five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million deal upon being traded to Cleveland before the 2022 season.

The 2026 season is the final guaranteed year of Watson’s contract. He’s set to count for a $44.9 million cap hit. All signs point toward Watson starting for the Browns next season. It will be fascinating to see how he plays.

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Cleveland went 5-12 last season. Todd Monken replaces Kevin Stefanski, who was fired and joined the Atlanta Falcons as their new HC.

“Ball’s coming out great,” Monken said about Watson’s play following the team’s first voluntary veteran minicamp practice. “Looks great. … I can’t get into his body to know how his body felt today, but he moved around great. And the ball came out great.”

Watson, who hasn’t spoken to the media since tearing the Achilles, has no ill will toward Cleveland, per ESPN. The Browns played three QBs in 2025 while Watson was out: Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.

Unless Watson struggles in the preseason, he will be under center on opening day against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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