The Browns’ Deshaun Watson could revive his career in 2026, as all signs are pointing to him being the Week 1 starter in Cleveland. After being out all last season due to two torn Achilles tendons, he was recently seen in voluntary minicamp splitting first team reps with Shedeur Sanders. Sanders had fraudulent Pro Bowl honors given to him in 2025, and should pose no threat to the starting job. The former Clemson star has an opportunity to finally live up to the hype that comes with the blockbuster trade to the Browns. The Browns are in a good position to contend with a solid roster, a down division, and a front-loaded schedule.
How The Browns’ Deshaun Watson Can Salvage His Career
What works in Watson’s favor in 2026 is the offensive supporting cast. Denzel Boston should see considerable snaps as a rookie, and the tandem of Jerry Jeudy and Isaiah Bond combined for 1,000 yards receiving with sub-par play from the quarterback position in 2025. To round out the receiving corps, Harold Fannin has a high ceiling in the league at tight end with Watson running the offense.
Other aspects of Cleveland’s roster should inspire some confidence for Browns’ fans. Quinshon Judkins might be a top ten RB if he’s not running into loaded boxes all season, but the offensive line remains a question mark for 2026. The talented defense should provide Watson with plenty of support, with Myles Garrett, Carson Schwesinger, and Denzel Ward leading the unit. The Brown have enough talent for a playoff push this season, but they will need steady play from Watson to fully realize that potential.
Change Favors The Browns
The AFC North is going through a significant transition, which might benefit Watson and the Browns. Despite the addition of Michael Pittman, the Steelers are virtually the same team they were last year. The Ravens lost key pieces in free agency, as they are going through a rebuild with Lamar Jackson rapidly approaching the end of his prime. The Bengals didn’t change head coaches, but they probably should’ve, with their porous defense and offensive line wasting the best quarterback they ever had in Joe Burrow. The division is prime for the taking, and steady play from Watson can be enough to win the division in 2026.
Watson has to hit the ground running with how the Browns’ 2026 schedule is laid out. Cleveland takes on four playoff hopefuls to start the year, with road games against the Jaguars and Buccaneers before returning home for showdowns with the Panthers and Steelers. They play Baltimore, Pittsburgh (again), and Houston before their bye in Week 11. The back half of the schedule is far more gentle (not as easy as the Chiefs though), with the only game against a playoff contender outside of the division being the Colts in Week 17. If the Browns can get to at least 6-4 before the bye, they should be able to clinch a playoff spot at minimum.
The three-time Pro Bowler has tarnished his legacy since coming to Cleveland, both with his play and his off the field conduct. He can’t redeem all of it in 2026, but he has an opportunity to prove that he can still be a competent starter in the NFL. The Browns’ roster has legitimate talent, and the AFC North is the weakest it has been in some time. It’s on Watson to prove that the exciting QB in Houston all those years ago is still there.
