Travis Switzer offers Deshaun Watson reality check to Browns fans

A report from February said veteran Deshaun Watson and 2025 rookie Shedeur Sanders were "probably kind of running neck and neck" in the battle to win the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback job.

This predictably upset pockets of Cleveland fans who want the club to put its Watson era in the past as soon as possible. 

While speaking with reporters on Wednesday, new Browns offensive coordinator Travis Switzer suggested Watson has a legitimate chance to serve as the team's 2026 Week 1 QB1. 

Why Deshaun Watson has "got to be part" of the Browns' quarterback competition

"We’re excited about Deshaun," Switzer said during his comments, per the Browns' website. "Anytime you have a guy who has had the success that he’s had, he’s got to be part of the equation for when it comes to competing for that job. And then Shedeur, what he was able to show last year, you know, he’s still young. He has a lot of growth that he can still achieve, especially year one to year two." 

The Browns sending three first-round picks and other draft assets to the Houston Texans for Watson and a 2024 sixth-rounder in March 2022 has been nothing short of disastrous for Cleveland. The Browns signed Watson to a fully guaranteed five-year, $230M contract as part of that trade, and he has made just 19 regular-season starts since that time. 

Most recently, Watson missed the entire 2025 campaign after he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in October 2024 and then reinjured the Achilles during his recovery. There's no reason for anybody to believe he will reclaim the form that made him a three-time Pro Bowler during his Houston tenure, but the Browns are basically stuck with what's left of his deal. 

Travis Switzer "excited" about Browns' current QB room

The Browns also have 2025 rookie Dillon Gabriel in their quarterback room, but few expect he will leapfrog both Sanders and Watson on the depth chart. Additionally, recent whispers have hinted that Cleveland may not go big-game hunting regarding available quarterbacks in free agency due to the money attached to Watson's contract. 

"You don’t take a job if you’re not excited about the quarterbacks that are in the building, and it’s more than one," Switzer added during his comments. 

For better or for worse, it sounds like Cleveland fans should prepare themselves to see plenty of Watson from the start of springtime workouts through at least the end of the preseason.