Houston Texan-turned-Cleveland Brown quarterback Deshaun Watson might've talked his way out of a future spot in the NFL over the weekend.
In the midst of a hotly contested --and highly controversial-- fight for a spot as the starting signal caller with second-year passer Shedeur Sanders, Watson essentially blasted Browns fans in a preseason postgame press conference on Saturday evening, stating that their negative perception of him was more "personal" than football related. The viral clip was the talk of the NFL from that point on, highlighting the now-nuclear levels of toxicity between Watson and the Cleveland fan base, leading many to believe (including myself) that his statements might've done more damage than initially thought.
Things then took another turn for the worst this morning, when Browns head coach Todd Monken officially announced Watson as the week one starter for their season-opening road matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Deshaun Watson's current feud could indicate more problems to come after the 2026 season
Beginning with Browns implications, ESPN NFL Analyst Dan Orlovsky expressed his disappointment for Browns fans on this morning's episode of First Take by stating,
“I am shocked. I feel awful for the fans of the Cleveland Browns. I have no idea how you could witness what you witnessed in that press conference and it not be a part of your evaluation and decision. I think the world of Todd Monken. I think he’s a great coach. I think the world of Andrew Berry. I think he’s put together really good football teams. I have no idea how they can make this decision.”
The reality is, Watson just napalmed the only remnant of a bridge he might've had left with those who support the Browns after his explosive statements on Saturday. Since his acquisition in 2022, Watson has either been injured, ineffective on the field or a combination of both. Then, you have the well-known fact that 2026 represents the final year of Watson's now infamous five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract, which has been arguably the biggest "elephant in the room" of the entire NFL.
All those factors being considered, there's no questioning why Browns fans --and a large portion of NFL fans in general-- feel exhausted over the entire process, and are just looking forward to the day that Watson and the Browns inevitably go their separate ways. However, while the Browns may be able to eventually turn the page as an organization, Watson may not be as fortunate.
Deshaun Watson could be out of the NFL in the near future
Not only has Watson been a declining version of himself since leaving the Texans four years ago, but the PR nightmare that follows every he goes has taken its toll on both the Browns and the NFL as a whole. With that said, what team could possibly have a stomach for the colossal circus that's guaranteed to arrive once Watson puts pen to paper to join the squad?
What fan base whats any level of what Browns fans have endured for the last almost-half-decade? And which coaching staff really believes that taking a flyer on a soon-to-be 31-year-old quarterback with multiple season-ending injuries and regressing play on his resume is a good idea at this stage?
The fact is, Watson's mouth and perceived lack of accountability might've just bought him a ticket to ride the same bus that former wide receiver Antonio Brown got on, and which current San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk seems primed to hop on in the near future (if not already). And that is a one-way bus out of the NFL, and onto the list of some of the greatest "what-if's" the league has ever seen.
It's truly sad that a once meteoric rise to the near-top of the NFL landscape has now led to the current reality that we all share regarding Watson, but he has no one to blame but himself for what might soon be an assured ending point.
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