If the Cleveland Browns had been able to get rid of Deshaun Watson, they would have done it long before now. But his arduous $230 million guaranteed contract makes that feasibly impossible, given what it would do to their salary cap now and into the future.
So instead, the Browns are sending Watson into their first preseason game as their starting quarterback. It will be his first live action since injuring his Achilles tendon in October 2024.
Some fans are holding out hope that Watson being given an opportunity to become Cleveland’s starting QB during the regular season is a way to increase his trade value. They are hoping the Browns can work out a deal the way they did for Joe Flacco last year.
With that in mind, analyst Ken Carman is pushing back on the growing Watson trade talks, saying that the beleaguered quarterback is “untradable.”
“A lot of you are trying to say to me that it showcases him for a possible trade. Would you trade for Deshaun Watson? If you wouldn’t, why would they? I’d be very surprised if they could get anything for him at all. He’s untradable. Of the four quarterbacks they have, he’s the least likely,” Carman said.
"A lot of you are trying to say to me that it showcases him for a possible trade. Would you trade for Deshaun Watson? If you wouldn't, why would they?"
➡️ @KenCarman and @SportsBoyTony push back on one thought being brought about #Browns QB Deshaun Watson https://t.co/gLO4iYd0nN pic.twitter.com/CUbVorUJvL
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) August 14, 2026
First off, Watson has a no-trade clause, so he would have to agree to any potential deal. Even if he did, trading him during the season would actually make the Browns’ salary cap situation even worse, as it would accelerate all of the money that has been pushed into future years by multiple contract restructurings.
The Browns may not want to keep four quarterbacks on their final 53-man roster, which is something very few teams in the NFL do. So, stuck with Watson and not wanting to expose sixth-round rookie project Taylen Green to waivers before putting him on the practice squad, trade rumors have also popped up regarding Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel.
Sanders may also be an unattractive target, with an uncertain ceiling on the field and a potential personality distraction off it. Gabriel reportedly has been making strides during training camp, even earning increased practice reps for a bit, which may have been Cleveland’s way of increasing his market value.
There is a line of thinking that the Browns want Watson to be their starter as a way to recoup at least some of their sunk costs, but doing so could hinder any chance of Sanders becoming a viable NFL QB while also hurting Cleveland’s chances at a better pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
NEXT: Analyst Identifies Browns' Biggest Preseason Roster Concerns
