The Cleveland Browns just wrapped up the most depressing quarterback battle I’ve seen in a minute, and guess who came out on top? Deshaun Watson. Yep, the dude who’s had a rough ride since joining the franchise in 2022 is getting yet another shot to prove himself in 2026. It’s wild because the Browns even drafted not one, but two possible QBs for the future in the 2025 NFL Draft, yet Watson still won the job this preseason. Given everything that’s happened, it’s worth a deep dive into how we even got here.
The Rise and Fall of a Superstar Talent
Back in 2017, Watson was hot stuff coming out of Clemson. The Texans snatched him up as the No. 12 overall pick in the NFL Draft on April 27, 2017, after Mitchell Trubisky and Patrick Mahomes went off the board. They wasted no time throwing him into the fire either. After benching Tom Savage in Week 1, Watson made his debut, tossing a touchdown and an interception in a loss. The very next week, September 14, 2017, he made his first NFL start and led the team to a 13-9 win, even rushing for a score. He was looking like the real deal, no doubt. But then, disaster struck. On November 2, 2017, during a practice, Watson tore his ACL, ending his promising rookie season after just seven games. He still finished with 19 passing touchdowns against eight interceptions and even snagged third in the Rookie of the Year voting. Seriously, that’s how good he was.
The Big Contract and the Big Drama
Watson bounced back from that ACL tear and became an absolute superstar for the Texans. We’re talking two straight Pro Bowl seasons! So, it made sense when, on September 5, 2020, the Texans picked up his fifth-year option and then locked him down with a four-year, $156 million extension before the 2020 season even started. And he responded, man. That year, he threw for a league-high 4,823 yards and a career-high 33 touchdowns. The problem? The Texans themselves went just 4-12. That’s when things started to unravel. On January 28, 2021, Watson demanded a trade, reportedly frustrated with the team and front office. Then, on March 17, 2021, a lawsuit emerged accusing him of sexual misconduct, alleging he “went too far” with a massage from a female masseuse.
So here we are in 2026. Watson’s got the job again, despite the Browns drafting two QBs last year. It’s truly a make-or-break year for the guy who once looked like a superstar. Can he silence the doubters and lead this team? Or will those legitimate questions about his past just keep looming over every single snap? The Browns are rolling the dice on this, and everyone’s watching.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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