When general manager Andrew Berry traded for quarterback Deshaun Watson in 2022, 5–2 starts — if not better — were expected to be the norm. Yet, in 2026, fans have some reservations about the team's success, specifically because of what it could mean for Cleveland's future at the quarterback position.
It would've been all too easy to watch Watson struggle on the field for a few weeks, get benched for Shedeur Sanders, and go on his merry way at season's end. But these are the Cleveland Browns we're talking about. The decisions are never a slam dunk and there's always a vexing fork in the road for this franchise that lives in the gray area.
For those concerned that a Watson-led playoff run may lead the Browns to extend his contract and chase after what would appear to be fool's gold, you're in luck.
Even if Deshaun Watson leads the Browns to the postseason, Cleveland should be smart enough to let him walk anyway
It may be curious timing for this piece, as Watson is coming off his best game of the season in Week 7. Besides the fact that most QBs have their best games against the woeful Tennessee Titans, that fleeting spark is precisely the kind of trap that the Browns' front office can't afford to fall for.
They've lost five years to this catastrophic transaction. At the edge of a new beginning, they can't afford to turn back now.
First, let's start with the obvious. In most games this year, Watson has been far more "passenger" than "bus driver." In other words, the Browns' 28th-ranked scoring offense isn't exactly doing the heavy lifting. While Watson has had clutch moments this season, most victories have been buoyed by defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg's scrappy group shutting down opposing offenses.
Watson ranks 19th in the league in passer rating among qualified passers. Pro Football Focus places him 29th. Finally, in ESPN's QBR metric, Watson lands 28th. That is not inspired quarterback play. That is a passer managing the game and making few enough mistakes for his team to come out with wins.
It's also a far cry from what was expected when the Browns handed him a five-year, $230 million contract that was fully guaranteed.
With a hat tip to Sam Robinson from Yardbarker, as of 2025, there have been 32 quarterbacks who led their teams to the playoffs and still were replaced the following year. Some recent examples include Mitchell Trubisky with the 2021 Chicago Bears, Jared Goff with the 2021 Los Angeles Rams, and Case Keenum with the 2018 Minnesota Vikings.
These examples demonstrate that it is not a foregone conclusion that a team must retain a quarterback simply because of a playoff appearance. In most cases, the fan base would gripe loudly to see a playoff QB jettisoned.
Color me skeptical, but I don't think there will be many tears shed for Deshaun Watson's departure from Cleveland.
Now, what if the unthinkable happens and Watson leads the team all the way to the Super Bowl and wins it? Hey, anything can happen. Admittedly, I'd be hard-pressed to advocate for a departure if that came true. A Lombardi Trophy might be a reasonable cost for sinking a few more years into the experiment. Though even that has precedent.
In 2001, the Baltimore Ravens won the franchise's first Super Bowl with a historic defense and mostly mediocre quarterback play from Trent Dilfer. They stood strong and moved on from the Super Bowl-winning QB, as difficult as it must have been. While they didn't repeat, they recognized that just because the outcome was favorable didn't mean the process was sound. That's having courage and sticking to a conviction.
The idea here is to quell Browns fans' concerns. Talking heads have seemingly put a damper on Cleveland's hot start by making it seem like if the wins keep coming, the quarterback will return, too. While it could happen, history shows us it's far from a foregone conclusion.
Don't let any of the noise distract from the fact that the 5-2 Cleveland Browns are in first place in the AFC North, with a trip to hostile Pittsburgh on deck.
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