As of mid-June 2026, it's not settled. Deshaun Watson is in an open QB competition with rookie Shedeur Sanders (and Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green are also in the room). Head coach Todd Monken initially hoped to name a starter by the end of mandatory minicamp, but reversed course on June 10 — saying he won't decide until he sees both QBs in pads and preseason action (from the Cleveland Browns team page).
So Watson has a real shot, but he's not locked in. On the bright side, he reported at minicamp that he's fully healthy for the first time since 2023 after battling Achilles and shoulder issues.
Sal Vetri noted on his channel that the last time we saw Watson (seven games in 2024) it was pretty rough — 5.3 yards per attempt and just poor overall play (). That's the risk. If Watson wins the job, the Monken scheme and weapons like Jerry Jeudy, Denzel Boston, and Harold Fannin Jr. could make him interesting, but it's a volatile situation until training camp.