Sources – Browns expect Deshaun Watson to be on 2026 roster
Although quarterback Deshaun Watson is unlikely to play this season, the Cleveland Browns plan to have him on their roster next season, league sources told ESPN.
The Browns opened the practice window on Watson on Wednesday, but they did so in order to give him his first practices this season so he doesn’t step away from football until next spring.
Their plan is still to take a closer look at their two rookie quarterbacks, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. Sanders will start his third NFL game against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, and Gabriel played throughout the first half of the season. In a perfect world, the Browns rookies will play this season and get as many reps as possible.
Cleveland’s goal has always been to take a closer look at its quarterbacks to see what they have, especially ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, in which it is currently projected to have two first-round picks.
There are various reasons why the team expects Watson to return next season, with money being a factor. Moving on from him would be costly, as the Browns would incur a salary cap charge of nearly $135 million if they released him before June 1 and a cap charge of $53 million if he was designated a cap casualty after June 1.
The record for dead money is the Denver Broncos, with Russell Wilson at $85 million, split into charges of $53 million and $32 million over two years. Cutting ties with Watson could cost Cleveland a lot more.
As it stands, Watson has a salary cap hit of $81.7 million in 2026, which will be the highest number in NFL history.
The Browns believe Watson contributed to their quarterback room and provided a veteran presence that held value for their rookie quarterbacks. That’s another reason why he was back in practice last week and he’s expected to be back with the team next season.
