Just days after former Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson watched the Cleveland Browns add another quarterback to the room and sent a message about his continued work to play this upcoming season, he has received a strong endorsement.
Watson is 9-10 as the Browns’ starter, and his stats since his trade from the Texans reflect that.
However, Watson is healthy after a string of injuries limited him to those 19 games since the start of the 2022 season, and continues to impress those who have seen him on the field.
Former Texans QB Deshaun Watson Gets Strong Words From Browns Owner
GettyFormer Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson is primed to reclaim a starting job in the NFL.
Browns executive vice president and JW Johnson, who co-owns the team as part of the Haslam Sports Group, is the latest to voice support for Watson, going so far as encouraging fans to do so as well.
“Deshaun looks great, by the way,” Johnson said on ESPN Cleveland on April 29. “He’s done a great job. He looks healthy. He’s in a great headspace. We’ll see how it all shakes out. There is an ongoing competition, but he’s got nothing to lose. And if he’s our starting quarterback, I know there are people that probably won’t be supportive, but they should need to be supportive as much as they can.
“If he plays great, then, hey, awesome. If he doesn’t, then it is what it is, and we’re looking ahead to the future.”
Watson is in the final year of a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract.
However, he will be on the Browns’ books through the 2029 season. That is due to void years that have been tacked on to the end of the deal as the front office looked to create cap space. It would make sense for them to see if there is still something left in the three-time Pro Bowler.
Watson must beat out 2025 draft picks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, as well as 2026 selection Taylen Green. However, he has far more experience than all of them.
That is true even with all of the time that Watson has missed over the past five years.
Deshaun Watson Gets Good News
GettyDeshaun Watson is the apparent front-runner to be the Browns’ starting QB.
Johnson’s words are not just lip service. Watson has garnered consistent support from new Browns head coach Todd Monken. Monken has noted the ex-Texans QB’s star past and that he has looked good so far during the offseason program. A decision is expected by June.
Browns GM Andrew Berry, who has also been complimentary of Watson, said the starting QB decision is Monken’s to make.
It appears Monken’s remarks were more than lip service, too.
“Deshaun Watson emerged from the Browns voluntary minicamp last week with an edge over Shedeur Sanders in the two-man quarterback competition,” cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot wrote on April 29, adding that the controversial QB “has the inside track to be named the Browns QB1, sources tell cleveland.com.”
That speaks to the former Texans passer’s talent, but also the state of his competition in Cleveland. Selected 12th overall by the Texans in 2017, Watson is the only Browns QB drafted before Round 3 (Gabriel, 94th overall).
Deshaun Watson Gets Clear Words Amid Major Career News