Should Browns Fans Start to Buy Stock in Cleveland’s $46 Million Quarterback?
Tuesday marked the start of organized team activities for the Cleveland Browns, and the fanbase is stirring over what they are seeing from Deshaun Watson, who has certainly had a rough start to his tenure in Cleveland, to say the least. Plus, coupled with his $46 million price tag, fans have been wondering if the former Clemson Tiger is the right option to start at quarterback in 2026. Not only that, the emergence of Sheduer Sanders, who earned a record a $17.7 million in group licensing income last season, has also played a huge role in the ongoing discussion of who is the right man to lead the Browns back to the playoffs. However, Watson dazzled in practice this week and is slowly winning back the hearts of Cleveland fans.
Local media in attendance this week have begun raving in droves over Watson’s appearances at the Browns training camp site in Berea, Ohio. Reports have come out saying that the three-time Pro Bowler’s first week of OTAs has been the strongest that the team has ever seen, and that he may be playing his way into solidifying the starting job before mandatory training camp begins on June 9th. The 30-year-old’s completion rates have been solid, in addition to throwing more touchdowns than interceptions. Head coach Todd Monken is also bringing back his offensive scheme from his days as the Baltimore Ravens' offensive coordinator, meaning option plays and quarterback mobility will be features of Cleveland’s playbook. Clips of Watson running these plays have been spread across social media, and he looks impressive. Coming off multiple Achilles injuries and shoulder surgery, there will be plenty of questions as to whether or not the three-time Pro Bowler can realistically get back to the double-threat quarterback he was with the Houston Texans, but if these clips are an indicator, then Browns fans might be able to look forward to a multi-dimensional offense.
If Watson were a stock able to be traded for, and the hope and expectations of fans were liquid cash, then he would certainly be a high-risk, high-reward bond. Fans should be weary to invest their time and care into a player like the 30-year-old, a man who hasn’t played a full season in six years, and when he has been healthy, the play on the field has been hot and cold at best. It’s not like they haven’t seen this show before, where the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback performs solidly enough in seven-on-sevens to put a decent amount of clips out on X or Instagram, and get everybody’s hopes up. The ‘Dawg Pound’ could put all their metaphorical cash in Watson’s stock, and they could come up flat broke.
However, if the newly installed Monken scheme is the right fit, and Watson’s body has fully recovered medically, then the stock becomes even more tantalizing. This is the first time for Cleveland that the 30-year-old gets a complete, full slate of games and an unhampered offseason to train since he first landed in Northeast Ohio in 2022. There have also been discussions among fans and media as to whether the three-time Pro Bowler was a good fit with former head coach Kevin Stefanski’s offensive playbook, tailored to a signal caller that thrives in over-the-middle play action and deep outside throws. Monken’s scheme allows Watson to get back to the basics that he learned in his time in Houston, and Cleveland’s offense, featuring young talent and a revamped offensive line, makes the 30-year-old stock look like a fair buy. It’ll be a hard decision to make, but if Browns fans want to put their stock into Watson, it may be a good choice- if over a dozen things that look good on paper pan out.
