Quarterback job security can change from week to week in the NFL. A strong stretch can buy a starter months of patience, while a couple of ugly performances can send a coaching staff searching for alternatives. Six weeks ago, plenty of people believed Cleveland’s starter was on a short leash. One of the league’s most plugged-in insiders says that is no longer the case.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN addressed Deshaun Watson’s standing in his latest notebook, as part of a broader look at quarterbacks who could be in danger of losing their jobs. He believes the Browns are going to give Watson a lot more time to prove himself.
“In Cleveland, Deshaun Watson’s runway is longer than it was six weeks ago. The Browns are a few plays from being 4-1, and Watson has had some bright moments, particularly with his mobility. For as maligned as his tenure with Cleveland has been, some NFL teams believe it’s bad business to pay a player $46 million not to play. So, my sense is Watson will get more time to prove himself,” Fowler wrote.
Before the season, Deshaun Watson was coming off a full year away from the field after multiple Achilles surgeries, and many expected Shedeur Sanders to take over at some point if the veteran struggled. After the 34-10 loss in Jacksonville, those predictions only grew louder.
Watson answered with 3 straight wins, each one decided by a go-ahead drive in the 4th quarter. Even after Sunday’s loss to the New York Jets, he has 7 touchdown passes against 2 interceptions and a 94.1 passer rating.
Fowler’s point about the Browns being a few plays from 4-1 is a fair one. Cleveland held a 12-10 lead with just over 6 minutes left in New Jersey, and a costly drop by Isaiah Bond late in the game was one of several opportunities that slipped away.
For a player coming off multiple Achilles surgeries, the ability to escape pressure and pick up yards with his legs is an encouraging development. Watson ran for 40 yards on 6 carries against the Jets, including a 20-yard run, and that mobility has been valuable behind a line that has struggled to protect him.
Sanders just signed with an agent amid trade speculation, and Dillon Gabriel is back practicing after opening the season on injured reserve. If Watson’s runway is truly longer, the Browns may have less reason to hold on to all of their young quarterbacks.
More time to prove himself also means more time for Watson to build a case for his future. He is in the final year of his contract, and whether that future is in Cleveland will depend on how he finishes the season.
The next opportunity arrives Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. A strong performance against a division rival would extend that runway even further, while another rough outing would restart the conversation Fowler believes has quieted for now.
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