You can’t make this stuff up. The Cleveland Browns, a franchise that has spent the better part of three decades searching for a quarterback, are apparently sticking with the most expensive and polarizing one in NFL history. That’s right, despite Deshaun Watson being sidelined and unlikely to see the field this season, the Browns are planning to have him back on the roster in 2026.
Why Are the Browns Sticking With Watson?
If you’re scratching your head, you’re not alone. But when you follow the money trail, the picture becomes painfully clear. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, cutting Watson would be a financial apocalypse for the Browns. We’re talking about a dead salary cap charge of nearly $135 million if they release him before June 1. To put that in perspective, the Broncos’ “record-setting” hit for Russell Wilson was $85 million, which looks like a bargain-bin deal by comparison.
Watson is set to have an $81.7 million cap hit in 2026, a number so large it could probably buy its own expansion team. So, in a nutshell, the Browns are keeping Watson because they literally can’t afford not to. It’s the ultimate “you break it, you buy it” scenario, but in this case, “it” is a fully guaranteed, $230 million contract that has become an albatross around the franchise’s neck.
The “Veteran Presence” Argument
Now, for the part that requires a bit of imagination. The Browns also claim that Watson has been a valuable “veteran presence” for their rookie quarterbacks, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. It’s a classic front-office justification. You can almost hear them in the meeting room: “Sure, he’s not playing, but the vibes? Impeccable.”
While there might be some truth to having an experienced QB in the room, it feels like putting a positive spin on a situation they’re stuck with. The primary plan is still to give the rookies, Sanders and Gabriel, as many game reps as possible. The Browns want to know what they have in these young guys, especially with two first-round picks looming in the 2026 NFL draft.
So, while Watson might be offering tips on reading defenses from the sidelines, his most significant contribution to the team right now is simply existing on the payroll. He’s back at practice, mostly to shake off the rust from his Achilles injury and not be completely detached from football until next spring.
It is a strange, expensive, and quintessentially Browns situation. They’re trying to build for the future with their rookies while tethered to the most expensive contract of their past.
