Browns have to bring QB Deshaun Watson back in 2026

The Cleveland Browns opened the practice window for quarterback Deshaun Watson this week, creating the possibility that he could play at some point before the end of the 2025 season. 

Even with that move, His return to the field this season seems unlikely given the Browns' desire to get extended looks at rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. But he could be back as the team's quarterback in 2026, as both ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Saturday evening that the Browns plan on having him on their roster next season, and could even use him as a potential starting quarterback.

Bringing Deshaun Watson back next season is the only realistic choice Browns have

While that seems like a big development, the Browns really do not have any other choice but to bring Watson back next season due to the salary cap ramifications that could come from trading or releasing him.

When the Browns originally acquired Watson from the Houston Texans — in what has become one of the worst trades in NFL history — they signed him to a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract extension.

If the Browns were to release him before June 1, it would come with a dead cap number in 2026 of $135 million, which would devastate their ability to build a roster.

If they were to release him with a post-June 1 designation, it would be a $53 million salary cap charge. 

That is also far from ideal, and would rival the dead-cap charge the Denver Broncos took on when they released Russell Wilson two years ago. 

Since joining the Browns at the start of the 2022 season, Watson has appeared in just 19 games and played like one of the worst quarterbacks in football when on the field. He has missed all of the 2025 season due to an Achilles injury and then an additional setback during his recovery. 

While he is likely to be on the roster next season, the Browns should not be counting on him to be any sort of major contributor. They should not try to force it, either. He is going to be 31 years old next season, and when holdouts, suspensions and injuries are added up, he has appeared in just 19 games since the end of the 2020 season. That is a lot of football to miss, and there is virtually no chance he is going to gives the Browns what they need.

Their best choice is to simply keep him on the roster to avoid the salary cap complications that come with releasing him, and either hope that one of this year's rookie quarterbacks develops or that they can land a better option at the top of the 2026 NFL Draft.