This offseason could bring an intriguing twist to the already-winding journey that former Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson’s career has been.
Watson remains under contract with the Cleveland Browns through the 2026 season on a fully-guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract, but a change of scenery could be in the best interest of both sides.
There could also be an in-conference suitor for the three-time Pro Bowler.
Ex-Texans QB Deshaun Watson Could Be Appealing to AFC Rival
GettyDeshaun Watson #4 of the Houston Texans reacts during a preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings.
Watson has been healthy for 19 starts in three seasons with the Browns, after logging 16-plus appearances in three of his five seasons with the Texans.
The New York Jets could be a team that should be willing to take a risk on Watson.
“You have to get somebody in here that can be somewhat competent to be able to try to win games, because you want to save your jobs if you’re the coaches and you’re the GM. If you told me it was Deshaun Watson, come on. And he was trying to resurrect his career?” former Jets QB Boomer Esiason told Gregg Gianotti during “Boomer & Gio” on January 27. “If that were the guy, much like the reputation that Kyler Murray has, this is what you’re dealing with.”
“They [the Jets] are in purgatory. They are in quarterback purgatory, and that’s why I believe that you would have to consider all of this. You have to consider all these free agents, you have to consider all the trade chips, and you have to consider all the … potential players [in the draft].”
The Browns own picks Nos. 5 and 24 in the 2026 draft. That could be enough for them to find a long-term solution rather than relying on Watson.
It could also pave the way for Watson’s exit, perhaps sending the former Texans star to the Jets.
“If in fact, he does become somebody that is available, they’re going to process it as that he is past all of his crap, and that he is in the middle of, now, wanting to and incentivized to go out and play as good as he possibly can to try to get another contract,” Esiason said, noting “that contract will never even remotely come close to what he did to sign.”
Deshaun Watson to Jets Idea Gets Pushback
GettyDeshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns looks on during mandatory minicamp.
Gianotti offered some pushback for Esiason, citing Watson’s off-field past, which helped pave the way for his exit from the Texans.
Gianotti correctly suspected there would be some pushback from fans as well.
“What do you think the fan reaction to that’s going to be? Positive or negative? It’s gotta be negative. It’s gotta be overwhelmingly negative, right? Maybe you could convince yourself that the guy wants to, as you say, resurrect his career and his reputation and play well,” Gianotti told Esiason.
“At one point in his career, he was tantalizing to watch at that position. But my God, he won’t–talk about a complete and utter failure.”
Esiason argued Watson’s age–he turned 30 in September 2024–in his efforts to “think like how GMs process” a potential opportunity to acquire someone like the former Texans star, whose performance on the field has been poor since his trade to the Browns.
Watson’s reputation certainly precedes him, which is a hurdle for the former Texans QB.
Former Texans QB Deshaun Watson Floated as Option for ‘Purgatory’ Team