The Browns are sticking with Deshaun Watson at quarterback, and that choice could end up dragging down some of the team’s most intriguing young pieces.
Cleveland spent the offseason reshaping its offense, especially along the line, and added Todd Monken to help steer the unit in a better direction. But Watson remains the central issue. Even if the Browns are better than they were over the last two years of the Kevin Stefanski era, his presence under center is likely to put a ceiling on what some of the playmakers can do.
Denzel Boston is one of the names drawing the most buzz in Berea. Beat writers from Buffalo were impressed during joint practices, especially by the way he used his size and strength to create separation.
The problem is that he’ll be catching passes from a quarterback who has completed 61.2 percent of his throws and averaged 177.1 passing yards per game in Cleveland. In 2024, Watson averaged 5.3 yards per attempt.
Boston has the look of a classic boundary receiver and the catch radius to make life easier on any quarterback. But that kind of profile only goes so far if the ball doesn’t get there often enough. He may still see double-digit targets and catches, but the yardage totals probably won’t be eye-popping because he’ll have to do so much of the work himself.
Quinshon Judkins could also feel the ripple effect. He’s been a bright spot, flashing explosiveness early in his rookie season and reportedly looking even twitchier and stronger in camp after his injury. Still, he was already fighting an uphill battle last year, when the Browns had little to no run game thanks to a shaky offensive line and a quarterback situation that offered no real threat.
That dynamic can cut both ways. With other teams willing to dare Watson to beat them through the air, defenses can load up against the run. If anyone benefits from that, it might be Dylan Sampson, who could wind up helping Watson with chunk gains on screen passes.
The concern up front is just as real for Spencer Fano. Sumer Sports says Watson ranked 10th-longest in time to throw in 2024 at 2.79 seconds.
He was slower to get rid of the ball than Anthony Richardson, Marcus Mariota, Mason Rudolph, Kenny Pickett, Dorian Thompson-Robinson and multiple rookies that season. His sack percentage was 12.18 percent, the worst among 47 quarterbacks with at least 100 snaps.
That puts a lot on a rookie left tackle. The Browns’ line looks different now, but asking Fano to protect a quarterback who holds the ball that long is a tough assignment. Watson’s mobility is gone, and because he was never especially strong with pocket presence to begin with, he can’t count on his legs to rescue him anymore.
In Other News...
Browns Fans Are Being Pushed Toward A Breaking Point Over Watson
The fallout from Deshaun Watsons latest press conference is spilling well beyond the podium, and the Browns fan base is feeling it in a way that could follow the team into the stadium. ESPN commentator Dan Orlovsky even suggested that Cleveland supporters think twice about showing up for home games after the clubs decision to keep Watson as the starter over Shedeur Sanders, a move that only deepened the frustration around a quarterback situation that has already been under a microscope.
Watson has since issued a public apology for his comments, but it has done little to quiet the unease around the Browns direction. The timing only adds to the tension, with Cleveland opening the schedule on the road for its first two games before finally coming home in Week 3, when the response from the stands will be impossible to miss. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Secondary Suddenly Has A Roster Problem Before Week 1
The Browns secondary has spent much of training camp trying to hold itself together, and the latest setback only adds to the pressure with Week 1 approaching. Rookie cornerback Michael Coats Jr. was carted off the field during a recent practice after suffering a leg injury, a troubling development for a defensive backfield that has already absorbed several hits this summer.
Coats had only just been working back from an ankle injury he picked up in the first preseason game, making this his second leg issue in a two-week span. With Damarri Mathis already out for the season and other injuries stacking up in the secondary, Clevelands depth at corner is suddenly looking thin in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Kareem Hunt Could Still Help A Team The Browns Passed On
Kareem Hunt is still looking for a landing spot as he works toward the 2026 season, and his latest stop says plenty about where he stands in the league now. The free-agent running back reportedly visited the Detroit Lions, a team trying to patch together depth at a position that has been hit by injuries and roster limitations.
For Browns fans, it is a reminder of how quickly the backfield picture has changed in Cleveland. The Browns have moved on from Hunt and are leaning on younger running backs atop the depth chart, but his name still carries enough value that a contender in need is at least taking a look. Whether that visit turns into something more is the part still hanging in the air. [Read more 🡒]