“We will continue to build out the quarterback room, no different than the other positional rooms,” said the Browns GM Andrew Berry last month. The Browns have 3 QBs now. Their head man, Deshaun Watson, re-ruptured his right Achilles tendon and is healing. In March 2025, they welcomed Kenny Pickett from the Eagles by giving up a 5th round pick in the 2025 Draft and Dorian Thompson-Robinson. The genuine surprise came when they signed the veteran Joe Flacco on a 1-year deal. So, the HC Kevin Stefanski prefers experience. It also shows one more thing. They don’t trust Watson anymore.

Three years ago, in 2022, the Browns signed the biggest fully guaranteed contract in NFL history at $230 million over 5 years. But since then he has only played 19 games in 3 seasons. In those games (all started), he has a 9-10 record with 341 of 557 passes (61.2% completion rate) for 3,365 passing yards and 19 touchdowns with 12 interceptions. Those numbers are average.

Cleveland reporter Myles Simmons took aim at Deshaun Watson during the April 12 episode of NFL on NBC show with Mike Florio. He expressed disappointment and made a big statement, “The Browns are never going to play Deshaun Watson again, all right. I don’t think Deshaun Watson’s ever going to play another down in the NFL ever again. So, like, that is what it is, even though he says he’s going to be back better than ever. Yeah, I mean, like, good luck in the UFL if they want you.” This has not happened by chance.

During the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, the GM Berry didn’t commit to the QB’s recovery. But he hoped for a timely recovery. Yet, reports emerged in January that the Browns were looking into the circumstances that led to the injury again. They wanted the find the loophole that if Deshaun Watson violated the injury protocol rules, they could get rid of his remaining contract. Alas, that didn’t happen.

After adding 2 QBs this year, both of whom could play as starters, they have made their intentions known. They want to move on from the injured signal caller.

Deshaun Watson gets a reality check

The last year when the Browns QB played a playoff game was in 2019, for the Texans. In 2020, he played 16 games. After that, he hasn’t played an entire season. The talent part is fine, but the team needs a player who can be present on the ground. It has led to fans’ outburst against Deshaun Watson.

However, the signal caller has claimed that he will return stronger than ever. Mike Florio shot down his hype and said, “I don’t think you get it back after six years. That was one of the arguments for the continued shunning of Colin Kaepernick. Well, it’s been so long since he’s played, there’s no point anymore. It’s been years since he played—how can he be any good? Fine. Same thing applies to Deshaun Watson. Six years after we last saw anything good from him, I would not expect it.”

The former 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick played 6 seasons in the league. But he couldn’t take the team into the postseason after 2013. The last 3 seasons were utter failure. That has happened with the Browns as well. If the franchise picks any quarterback in the upcoming draft, then it could signal the end of Watson and the start of a rebuild.

They are already pinning hopes on Kenny Pickett. The scenario will become more complicated for Deshaun Watson. Words aren’t enough anymore. Fans need results. That’s the only way forward. And until he completely recovers from the injury, everything is just talk. It might even be too late already.