If you are looking for a comeback story to watch in 2026, you might want to pay close attention to Deshaun Watsons re-emergence as a starting quarterback with the Cleveland Browns under new coach Todd Monken. Early reports out of Cleveland assert that Watson has impressed at organized team activities and moved ahead of Shedeur Sanders as the club’s QB1.
While it is far too late for Watson to live up to his historic contract â $230 million fully guaranteed over five years after the Browns traded six draft picks just to acquire him â he could line himself up for another starting job, or perhaps extend his stay in Cleveland, with a bounce-back campaign that reminds the football world of his spectacular talents as a playmaking wizard from the pocket. Â
Now, I certainly understand why the doubters are rolling their eyes at that statement. It’s been a while since we’ve seen the best of Watson, who’s now 30 years old. But the recent reclamations of Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield and Geno Smith should create some optimism that Watson can turn things around under a head coach who believes in his game and brings a system that will showcase his talent.Â
Monken is coming off a three-year stint where he helped Lamar Jackson claim his second MVP award (and nearly a third), while completing 66% of his passes for 10,399 yards with 86 touchdowns and just 18 interceptions over 46 games. Jackson finished with a passer rating of at least 102.7 in each of those seasons and averaged a sparkling 8.4 yards per pass attempt during that span.Â
Those numbers are especially notable because Jackson transitioned from a run-heavy offense to a spread system that featured more downfield throws and a renewed commitment to a quick-rhythm passing game. With Monken pulling from his experience as a playcaller on the collegiate level, the Baltimore Ravens utilized more spread formations and Air Raid concepts to make the game easy for their electric QB. Â
Watson once enjoyed similar success during his time with the Houston Texans, directing a wide-open offense under Bill OBrien. The former first-rounder completed 67.8% of his passes for 14,539 passing yards with 104 touchdowns and 36 interceptions for a 104.5 passer rating during his first four seasons. With an 8.3 yards-per-attempt average over his 54-game stint in Houston, Watson clearly excelled in the “spread and shred” system, mirroring the offense in which he flourished while leading Clemson to a national title in 2016. Â
The skeptics will point out that Watsons recent struggles and injuries should not be ignored, as we have not seen the former Pro Bowler at his peak since 2020. He has seemingly lost his mojo after sitting out all of 2021, serving an 11-game suspension in 2022 for violating the NFLs personal conduct policy following more than two dozen allegations of sexual assault, and dealing with injuries to his throwing shoulder and Achilles between 2023-25. Watson has appeared in just 19 out of a possible 85 games over the past five seasons and his last NFL action came in October 2024.
However, the Browns ill-fitting scheme also contributed heavily to Watsons struggles.
Although Kevin Stefanskis under-center, play-action-heavy system has worked well for some passers, Watson never found his rhythm within the scheme, as evidenced by his woeful numbers (61.2% completion rate, 3,365 pass yards, 19 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 80.7 passer rating) over those 19 games. Whether it was rust, resistance or a complete regression, Watson’s subpar play is one of the most puzzling developments we have witnessed in recent years.Â
That said, I’m reminded of what Hall of Fame executive Ron Wolf once told me he learned from the late Al Davis: Don’t give up on a blue-chip talent because a new voice or environment could unlock their potential. Although that discussion was part of a conversation about first-round picks getting multiple chances in the league, the point resonates in th
