Deshaun Watson’s standing in Cleveland is still unsettled, and Saturday’s preseason loss only added more static to an already messy picture.
Watson came back from two Achilles tears for the 2026 preseason and entered camp fighting Shedeur Sanders for the Browns’ starting job under first-year coach Todd Monken. After opening the preseason with a solid outing, Watson went cold in the second half of Saturday’s 31-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills at Huntington Bank Field, finishing 5 of 12 for 36 yards with an interception.
The boos came with him. Afterward, Watson said the reaction was “disrespectful” and “personal,” pointing back to fans who cheered when he tore his Achilles in 2024, according to The Athletic.
Monken has already said he does not expect to let the decision drag beyond early next week. Sanders got the start against Buffalo and went 9 of 11 for 74 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The competition is still alive, but Watson’s long-term future in Cleveland is where the real uncertainty lives.
He is in the final year of the fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract the Browns handed him after the 2022 trade. If Cleveland moved on now, the cap fallout would be severe. Most projections, per Pro Football Rumors, point to a post-June 1 release after the 2026 season if Watson doesn’t deliver, which would allow the Browns to spread about $86 million in dead money across 2027 and 2028.
That makes any quick divorce highly unlikely. But with the play uneven, the crowd relationship fraying and the contract clock winding down, it’s fair to look ahead to what Watson’s next stop might look like if Cleveland eventually decides the experiment is over.
The best landing spot on paper is the Los Angeles Rams. Sean McVay has spent years making quarterbacks look more comfortable and more complete by giving them clean reads and creative structure. Matthew Stafford is locked in as the starter after an MVP-caliber 2025 season and a recent extension, which would let Watson work as a veteran backup without the burden of rescuing a franchise.
That setup matters. McVay’s offense is built on defined progressions and easy completions, the kind of environment that can help a quarterback rediscover timing after limited reps and uneven play.
The Rams are also developing younger options such as Stetson Bennett and first-round pick Ty Simpson behind Stafford, according to team reporting. Watson on a low-cost deal would add experience without changing what the Rams already are.
The Las Vegas Raiders would offer a different kind of opportunity. Kirk Cousins is the expected Week 1 starter under head coach Klint Kubiak, while No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza develops behind him. In that kind of setup, a veteran with mobility still has value, especially one who can step in without forcing the offense to be rebuilt around him.
Watson’s legs still give him something that separates him from a standard backup, even if the starting ceiling is no longer clear. A short-term, low-commitment deal could give the Raiders insurance while Mendoza continues to learn. Las Vegas has stressed a measured approach with the rookie rather than rushing him, which opens the door for experienced depth.
The Miami Dolphins might be the cleanest schematic fit of the three. New head coach Jeff Hafley runs an offense built on spacing, quick decisions and quarterback movement. Malik Willis is the primary starter after signing a multi-year deal this offseason, and Watson’s ability to extend plays and work on the move fits naturally with motion, bootlegs and horizontal stretch concepts.
Miami wouldn’t need him to win the job right away. He could function as high-upside insurance while the offense stays true to itself. The system’s demand that defenders process quickly could also help Watson rebuild confidence through structure instead of constant freelancing.
The common thread in all three spots is fit, not brand name. The Rams would give him the most structured setting.
The Raiders would pair veteran stability with some upside. The Dolphins would match his athletic traits to an offense that values movement.
None of that is imminent, of course. Cleveland still has to sort through Watson and Sanders with the regular season approaching, and the contract math makes an immediate clean break a long shot.
If the Browns eventually decide after 2026 that the partnership has run its course, where Watson lands next will matter a lot. The right staff, the right system and less pressure could give him one more chance to show the dual-threat quarterback who once led the league in passing is still in there somewhere.
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Rams Just Opened One Last Preseason Door For Young Players
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The corresponding moves opened spots after cornerback Zech McPhearson and edge rusher Keir Thomas were placed on injured reserve, while linebacker Daniel Rickert was waived with an injury designation. For younger players trying to stick, every shuffle matters because it changes the competition around them and can create one more chance to be seen before the Rams make their final calls. [Read more 🡒]