Deshaun Watson’s 2026 season is forcing people to say things out loud that they probably didn’t expect to be discussing this deep into the year.
Through seven games, the Cleveland Browns quarterback has thrown for 1,482 yards with seven touchdowns and three interceptions, and the team sits at 5-2. That mark is Cleveland’s best start since 2020, and it has put Watson right back into the center of the conversation after a stretch where many assumed the Browns would be moving on quickly.
That resurgence was enough for Stephen A. Smith to back Watson for Comeback Player of the Year on Tuesday’s episode of First Take.
Chris Canty, the former Super Bowl-winning defensive tackle, pushed back hard at that idea, saying it was “uncomfortable to even say” because of Watson’s off-field controversies. Le’Veon Bell, though, wasn’t interested in letting the discussion stop there.
The former Pittsburgh Steelers running back took to social media and wrote:
“Deshaun Watson is having better year than Dak Prescott .. but y'all not ready to have that conversation.”
Bell wasn’t the only one sounding more bullish on Watson’s place in Cleveland.
On the NFL Network’s “The Aftermath” the previous day, Ian Rapoport said Watson’s play may have shifted how the Browns view him going forward. Rapoport said:
“At the very least... he has at least put himself in the conversation to be the quarterback next year if things go well, if he stays healthy.”
He also laid out how the year was expected to unfold before Watson’s strong start changed the picture.
“I think everyone went into the season knowing Deshaun Watson’s going to be a bridge guy. He’ll either play well or not.
Shedeur (Sanders) will probably play pretty quickly, and the Browns will move on from there. Except the team is pretty good.
(He) has really solidified things in his career in a way he hasn’t for several seasons.”
Still, Rapoport wouldn’t go so far as to label Watson the Browns’ future beyond that.
“Is he the Browns’ long-term future franchise quarterback? We simply don’t know that. If he leads to the playoffs or something, there’s probably going to be some conversations.”
Watson and the Browns now head to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers on Sunday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET on CBS.
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