Field Yates: Browns' Watson call leaves QB future unresolved

Watson carries a $40.9 million cap hit this season.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Aug 241 min read

"Today was yet another, to me, message from the Cleveland Browns that the QB of their future is not on the roster right Via @ESPNNFL on X

What happened: Cleveland named Deshaun Watson its Week 1 starter after an offseason competition. He started one preseason game and entered another in the third quarter.

Why it matters: The decision settles Cleveland's immediate depth chart while keeping its long-term quarterback planning in focus. Field Yates argued that the franchise's future starter remains outside the current roster.

By the numbers: Watson's PFF grade peaked at 92.4 before his post-trade slide; each of his three subsequent marks remained below 70.

What to watch: Watson's performance in Cleveland's Sept. 13 road opener will provide the first regular-season test of the decision.

Sources

@ESPNNFL 2026-08-24T21:13:11.493931+00:00

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