Watson competing for starting QB role.
Injuries and suspension limited Watson's play.
Browns seek to justify $230M contract.
Atlas AI
The Cleveland Browns are giving quarterback Deshaun Watson another opportunity to reclaim the starting job after he took part in voluntary minicamp drills on April 21. Watson split first-team reps with Shedeur Sanders during the session, signaling an open competition under new head coach Todd Monken. The reset comes as Watson enters the final year of his fully guaranteed $230 million contract and looks to revive his career in Cleveland.
Watson, largely out of the public eye for 19 months while rehabbing injuries and serving a suspension earlier in his Browns tenure, is seeking to reestablish himself as a starter. Team staff used the three-day minicamp to evaluate the depth chart, and the early choice to pair Watson and Sanders with the first unit underscored the club’s willingness to reassess the position.
Since arriving via trade from the Houston Texans in March 2022, Watson has appeared in only 19 games because of an 11-game suspension in 2022 and multiple injuries. Over those 19 games, he has completed 61.2% of his passes with 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The Browns believe that a healthy, motivated Watson in a system tailored to his strengths could stabilize an offense that has lacked continuity at quarterback.
Monken, hired to bring an offensive identity and flexibility, is evaluating all options. Team officials have emphasized that past performance in Houston — where Watson was a three-time Pro Bowler — remains part of the assessment but that current health, command of the scheme and decision-making in practice will drive the depth chart.
Browns weigh competition after minicamp snapshot
Last season’s alternatives struggled to lock down the job, keeping the door open for Watson’s return to the top of the chart. Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel combined for a 4-9 record in 2025, and internal evaluations noted production levels that would have ranked at or near the bottom among qualified passers.
Sanders, Gabriel and the first-team reps
At the minicamp, Watson and Sanders split first-team repetitions in team drills, with Gabriel working behind them. Coaches view this as a genuine competition entering the summer, not merely a ceremonial nod to seniority. Cleveland’s plan is to identify the quarterback who most consistently executes Monken’s concepts, protects the ball and sustains drives.
Owner Jimmy Haslam has previously acknowledged that the 2022 blockbuster trade for Watson was a major gamble. Team leaders now say a new offensive approach and a healthier quarterback room give Watson a legitimate opening to change the narrative if he wins the job, stays available and delivers steady play.
Contract, injuries and the path back
Watson signed a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract after Cleveland traded three first-rounders and three additional picks to acquire him in 2022. He began his Browns career with an 11-game suspension and a $5 million fine related to accusations of sexual misconduct; he completed a treatment program after the NFL and NFLPA reached a disciplinary settlement that August. Two Texas grand juries had declined to pursue criminal charges shortly before the trade.
Achilles timeline and recent clearance
A right Achilles tear on Oct. 20, 2024, ended Watson’s 2024 season. He underwent a second Achilles surgery in January 2025 after re-injury, then returned to on-field work late in the year. Cleveland opened a 21-day practice PUP window on Dec. 3 but kept him out for the remainder of 2025 to prioritize long-term recovery, according to team and league guidance at the time.
In 2024, Watson did not surpass 200 passing yards in any of his seven starts before the injury, and his 33.1 Total QBR would have ranked last among qualifiers if he had enough attempts. The Browns believe those numbers can improve with health, timing and a scheme designed to stress defenses horizontally and vertically.
What happens next will hinge on camp and preseason evaluations. If Watson maintains health and converts practice progress into consistent game management, he will be positioned to start Week 1; otherwise, Sanders and Gabriel remain in contention as Cleveland seeks stability at the game’s most important position.