Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam publicly backed Deshaun Watson as a real contender for the 2026 starting quarterback job on Wednesday, April 1, despite Watson missing the entire second half of 2024 with back-to-back Achilles injuries. That statement sets up one of the most compelling training camp fights in the AFC North, with three quarterbacks — Watson, Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel — all chasing the same spot under new head coach Todd Monken.
Haslam’s endorsement carries genuine weight. The Cleveland Browns have a massive financial commitment tied to Watson, and the front office isn’t about to quietly hand the keys to a younger option without seeing what their veteran can do healthy inside a fresh offensive system.
How the Cleveland Browns Got Here: The Injury Timeline
Deshaun Watson last played in Week 7 of the 2024 season before a second straight Achilles injury ended his year. That back-to-back Achilles situation is genuinely rare — and brutal. Returning from one torn Achilles is hard enough; coming back from two tests any athlete’s durability and explosiveness at the position.
Watson has not played meaningful football since that Week 7 exit. The Cleveland Browns cycled through backup options for the rest of 2024, a stretch that exposed just how thin their quarterback depth had become. Enter Dillon Gabriel, added as a developmental option, and Sanders, who gives the team a more experienced bridge alternative. By the time Monken was hired, Cleveland had three distinct quarterback profiles under one roof — a returning veteran with significant injury history, a mid-range starter, and a younger arm still learning the pro game.
Watson’s play-action rate and yards-after-catch numbers from receivers were solid during his last healthy stretch, but his passer rating and red zone efficiency had already dipped before the injuries hit. The Cleveland Browns need a sharper Watson in 2026, not just a healthier one.
What Jimmy Haslam Said About the Browns QB Race
Owner Jimmy Haslam made his position clear in comments reported by ESPN on April 1, 2026, saying Watson deserves a genuine shot at the starting role under Monken’s offense. Haslam pointed to Monken’s track record of working with quarterbacks of different skill sets as a reason for optimism about Watson’s fit in the new scheme.
“Deshaun has a great chance, fresh start, offensive-minded coach, who has in his past been able to work with all kinds of different quarterbacks and make them successful,” Haslam said via ESPN.
That quote does two things at once. First, it signals to Watson that the organization hasn’t walked away from the investment. Second, it tells Sanders that nothing comes free — he will need a standout offseason to take the job. Haslam stopped short of naming Watson the starter outright, which is the smart play. Monken gets to run his own competition without ownership boxing him in before a single snap is taken.
Todd Monken brings an offensive-minded identity that Cleveland has lacked in recent cycles. His work with quarterbacks across different collegiate and NFL stops gives him credibility to judge all three candidates on merit rather than defaulting to the biggest contract.
Sanders vs. Watson — Who Wins the Job?
Based on Haslam’s comments and how NFL front offices typically operate, this looks like a two-man race between Watson and Sanders, with Gabriel serving as the developmental third option. Sanders brings reliability and recent game reps. Watson brings a higher ceiling — if the Achilles recoveries hold.
Two Achilles injuries in back-to-back seasons is not a minor footnote. NFL team doctors track explosive movement patterns at quarterback — drop-back speed, pocket mobility, the ability to extend plays. Those metrics take a real hit after even one Achilles tear. Two tears raise fair questions about whether Watson can recapture the athleticism that made him a franchise-level investment in the first place.
Sanders, by contrast, enters the fight without that injury cloud. His challenge is proving he can operate inside Monken’s scheme, which historically demands a quarterback who processes quickly, hits intermediate routes on time, and manages the pocket under pressure. Snap count management and play-action usage will be the film study checkpoints worth watching when training camp opens.
Gabriel’s inclusion matters for a separate reason. Young quarterbacks in three-way competitions rarely win the job outright, but they push the veterans. His presence keeps both Watson and Sanders from getting too comfortable, which is exactly what a new coaching staff wants heading into a rebuild year.
Key Developments in the Cleveland Browns QB Situation
- Haslam’s Watson endorsement came via ESPN on April 1, 2026 — the same day Monken’s offensive philosophy became the central topic of Browns quarterback discussions.
- Watson will have been out of regular-season action for roughly a full calendar year by the time 2026 training camp opens, based on his Week 7 exit date.
- Monken’s previous stops include Georgia, where he coordinated an offense that averaged over 40 points per game during the 2021 national championship run, a credential Haslam cited when discussing quarterback development.
- Watson’s contract carries an estimated $230 million in total value, making the dead-cap implications of any roster decision one of the largest financial constraints in the league for 2026.
- Gabriel was selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, giving Cleveland a cost-controlled third quarterback option for multiple seasons regardless of how the Watson-Sanders battle plays out.
What This Means for Cleveland Browns Fans in 2026
Cleveland Browns offensive identity in 2026 hinges almost entirely on who wins this quarterback competition. Monken’s scheme favors quarterbacks who can work from multiple formations, process information fast at the line, and hit rhythm throws to create yards after the catch. A healthy Watson fits that description well — but so does Sanders, who lacks Watson’s physical ceiling yet brings far fewer health concerns into the equation.
The salary cap math here is tough. Watson’s contract structure means Cleveland carries substantial dead money regardless of the outcome, which limits how aggressively the front office can add weapons around whoever wins the job. Draft strategy for the 2026 NFL Draft will likely reflect that reality, with the Browns targeting offensive line depth and pass-catching options to support their starter from Week 1.
Three straight seasons of quarterback instability have consistently dragged Cleveland’s offense below league average in scoring and yards per game. If Watson recaptures his pre-injury form under Monken, the Cleveland Browns become a credible wild-card threat in the AFC North alongside the Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Cincinnati Bengals. If the Achilles recoveries don’t hold, Sanders gives the team a functional floor — just not a ceiling worth building a contender around long-term.
Is Deshaun Watson the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns in 2026?
No official starter has been named. Owner Jimmy Haslam said Watson has a strong shot at the job, citing new head coach Todd Monken’s ability to work with different quarterback styles, but Haslam stopped short of a formal announcement and left the final call to Monken. Watson, Sanders, and Gabriel are all in the mix heading into the offseason program.
Who is Todd Monken and why does he matter to the Browns’ QB decision?
Todd Monken is Cleveland’s new head coach, described as offensive-minded with a strong background developing quarterbacks at both the college and NFL levels. At Georgia, his offense averaged over 40 points per game during the 2021 national title run. Haslam specifically referenced Monken’s quarterback development history as a reason for confidence in Watson’s ability to thrive in the 2026 scheme.
When did Deshaun Watson last play for the Cleveland Browns?
Watson’s most recent game action came in Week 7 of the 2024 NFL regular season, when a second straight Achilles injury ended his year. He had also suffered an Achilles injury the prior season. The two-year absence means Watson will face a steep adjustment period returning to live game speed, regardless of how his physical recovery progresses during the offseason program.
Who is Dillon Gabriel and what is his role with the Cleveland Browns?
Dillon Gabriel is the third quarterback in Cleveland’s 2026 competition. Selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, he gives the Browns a cost-controlled arm under contract for multiple seasons. While Gabriel is unlikely to win the starting job outright in a three-way race, his presence adds competitive pressure on both veterans and gives Monken a developmental option to evaluate throughout the preseason schedule.
How does Watson’s contract affect the Cleveland Browns’ salary cap in 2026?
Watson’s deal, valued at an estimated $230 million in total, carries significant dead-cap charges for the Browns regardless of whether he starts or is released. That financial weight limits Cleveland’s ability to add offensive weapons or defensive depth around whoever wins the starting job. The Browns’ front office will likely lean on the draft and cost-controlled rookie contracts to fill roster gaps rather than pursuing veteran free agents at premium positions.
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