Browns Insider Sounds Off on Deshaun Watson 'Distraction' Concerns Amid QB Competition

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Max Dible | Last updated May 22, 2025 10:38 AM ET

The Cleveland Browns have perhaps the most crowded quarterback room in the NFL heading into OTAs, and the presence of Deshaun Watson could potentially complicate the situation even further.

Cleveland traded for Kenny Pickett and reunited with Joe Flacco via a one-year deal in free agency earlier this offseason. The team then proceeded to select Dillon Gabriel out of Oregon in the third round and the most famous name in college football over the past year in Shedeur Sanders early in Round 5.

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam has already gone on record this offseason referring to Watson's trade/contract as a mistake, though it still has two fully-guaranteed years remaining on it. Meanwhile, the polarizing signal caller with a history of off-field controversies is battling yet another injury -- this time a twice-torn Achilles tendon that could sideline him for the entirety of 2025.

Ken Carman and Anthony Lima of 92.3 The Fan asked Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com on Thursday, May 22, whether Watson will prove a distraction concern amid all the other drama that already exists in the Browns QB room.

"He's in the meeting rooms. He's kind of helped (rookies)...messaging is positive from Kevin to Andrew to players...so at this point, I'm going to say no on the distraction piece."

@MaryKayCabot w/ @KenCarman & @SportsBoyTony on Deshaun ⤵️

Listen: https://t.co/Waxxj7mNmD pic.twitter.com/gdlPmF4cVQ
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) May 22, 2025

"I really don't think so," Cabot responded. "Even the rookie quarterbacks are talking about him in sort of mentorship terms. He's in the meeting rooms with them. He's trying to help those guys as much as he possibly can."

"So far everyone's been really, really positive about it," she continued. "So, at this point, I'm gonna say no on the distraction piece."

Cabot reported earlier in the week that Pickett will begin OTAs as QB1, while Gabriel will take snaps with the second team. That likely means Flacco will begin work as QB3, while Sanders will start as the low man on the depth chart.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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