When the Cleveland Browns announced Deshaun Watson as their Week 1 starter for the 2026 season, the NFL world erupted with criticism for Cleveland. Few people could make sense of the Browns’ decision to go with the player who represents the worst trade and contract in NFL history.
However, Browns head coach Todd Monken believes Watson gives Cleveland’s offense the best chance to move the ball and score points. Time will tell if that’s the case, and Watson will likely only have a limited amount of time to prove it is.
While all the criticism being hurled a the Browns is justified, there is also a path to success with Watson under center. However, that path has less to do with Watson, and more to do with the people around him — more specifically, the offensive line.
If Cleveland is going to avoid disaster with Watson as its starter, the team’s rebuilt offensive line will be a big reason why.
Browns will need a strong offensive line to get the most out of Deshaun Watson
Although Watson was named Cleveland’s starter, his training camp performance has looked how he has always looked in a Browns’ uniform: inconsistent with highs and lows. Watson’s preseason outings also reinforced what Browns fans already know; the quarterback can manage things, for the most part, when everything is perfect, but disaster could strike when things start to break down.
That was evident in the first preseason game against the Chicago Bears, when Watson had to play behind the second offensive line. The veteran quarterback started to get antsy in the pocket, and that’s when he was strip-sacked, and also when he threw the ball in the dirt when targeting an open checkdown.
The same panic unfolded in the second preseason game, when Watson entered the third quarter against the Buffalo Bills with Cleveland’s depth offensive linemen. The 10-year vet didn’t look comfortable, and couldn’t manage the pressure well, throwing inaccurate and ill-advised passes instead.
If the Browns are going to keep that version of Watson from showing up in the regular season, they will need the offensive line to play really well. Obviously, the group will have to give Watson time to throw, but they will also need to do a good job of carving out run lanes. That will help keep Cleveland in front of the sticks, and keep defenses honest.
If the offensive line isn’t able to consistently deliver quality play, Watson’s history has shown that he will crumble under pressure. That’s when the disastrous plays that have become trademark for Watson in a Browns uniform will start to come out. That’s also when everyone will remind Cleveland that it never should’ve started Watson.
The pressure is on the offensive line to be elite and prevent the Browns from facing that ugly reality.
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