Deshaun Watson is getting another shot in Cleveland, ESPN breaks down why
ESPN recently discussed how former Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson is trending toward starting under center for the Cleveland Browns.
Former Clemson football standout Deshaun Watson is back on the field with the Cleveland Browns as OTAs get underway, and there appears to be real belief he can still work his way back into the starting quarterback conversation. Watson has not played since October 2024 after suffering another Achilles injury, but Cleveland’s new offensive staff believes the veteran may benefit from a different approach under coordinator Todd Monken. According to ESPN, one NFL evaluator believes Monken’s offense could be exactly what Watson needs at this stage of his career.
“This can be a good thing for Monken because he’s got a veteran that he can play with low expectations,” the evaluator said. “If [Watson is] even 80% of what he was, that’s a win. ” Monken’s system is expected to feature more spread concepts and quicker reads, something many around the league believe fits Watson’s skill set better than what Cleveland previously ran.
The early OTA reviews have also been encouraging. “Ball’s coming out great,” Monken said after practice. “Looks great.
… He moved around great. And the ball came out great. ” Watson has appeared in only 19 games since joining Cleveland, throwing for 3,365 yards with 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions during that span.