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If you’re looking for a comeback story to watch in 2026, you might want to pay close attention to Deshaun Watson’s resurgence as the starting quarterback with the Cleveland Browns under new coach Todd Monken. Early reports from Cleveland claim that Watson has impressed in organized team activities and moved ahead of Shedeur Sanders as the club’s QB1.
While it’s too late for Watson to live up to his historic contract ($230 million fully guaranteed over five years after the Browns traded six draft picks just to acquire him), he could prepare for another starting job, or perhaps extend his stay in Cleveland, with a bounce-back campaign that reminds the football world of his spectacular talents as a playmaking wizard from the pocket.
Now, I certainly understand why skeptics roll their eyes at that statement. It’s been a while since we’ve seen the best of Watson, who is now 30 years old. But the recent claims of Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield and Geno Smith should generate some optimism that Watson can turn things around with a head coach who believes in his game and brings a system that will showcase his talent.
Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns throws a pass during a volunteer minicamp for veterans at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on April 21, 2026 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
Monken is coming off a three-year stint in which he helped Lamar Jackson claim his second MVP award (and almost a third), while completing 66% of his passes for 10,399 yards with 86 touchdowns and just 18 interceptions in 46 games. Jackson finished with a passer rating of at least 102.7 in each of those seasons and averaged 8.4 yards per pass attempt during that span.
Those numbers are especially notable because Jackson transitioned from a run-based offense to a spread system that featured more downfield throws and a renewed commitment to a fast-paced passing game. With Monken drawing on his experience as a play-caller at the college level, the Baltimore Ravens used more spread formations and Air Raid concepts to make the game easier for their electric QB.
Watson once enjoyed similar success during his time with the Houston Texans, running a wide-open offense under Bill O’Brien. The former first-round pick completed 67.8% of his passes for 14,539 passing yards with 104 touchdowns and 36 interceptions for a 104.5 passer rating over his first four seasons. Averaging 8.3 yards per attempt during his 54-game stint in Houston, Watson clearly excelled in the spread and shred system, mirroring the offense he flourished in while leading Clemson to a national title in 2016.
Skeptics will point out that Watson’s recent struggles and injuries shouldn’t be ignored, as we haven’t seen the former Pro Bowler at his best since 2020. He’s seemingly lost his mojo after sitting out all of 2021, serving an 11-game suspension in 2022 for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy following more than two dozen sexual assault allegations, and dealing with injuries to his throwing shoulder and Achilles tendon between 2023. and 25. Watson has appeared in just 19 of a possible 85 games over the past five seasons and last played in the NFL in October 2024.
However, the Browns’ inadequate scheme also greatly contributed to Watson’s struggles.
Although Kevin Stefanski’s under-center, play-action system has worked well for some quarterbacks, Watson never found his rhythm within the scheme, as evidenced by his woeful numbers (61.2% completion rate, 3,365 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 80.7 passer rating) in those 19 games. Whether it’s rust, resistance, or a complete regression, Watson’s lackluster play is one of the most baffling developments we’ve witnessed in recent years.
Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns watches during warmups before a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Huntington Bank Field on October 20, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
That said, I’m reminded of what Hall of Fame executive Ron Wolf once told me he learned from the late Al Davis: Don’t give up on a top talent because a new voice or environment could unlock his potential. Although that discussion was part of a conversation about first-round picks getting multiple opportunities in the league, the point resonates in this scenario, given the arrival of Monken as the Browns’ new head coach and playmaker and Watson’s early pedigree.
As much as Watson has struggled since arriving in Cleveland four years ago, he was a three-time Pro Bowler in Houston and widely viewed as a top-five QB.
“Any time you have a player who at some point has exhibited skills at an elite level,” Monken reportedly said at the NFL Scouting Combine in February, “I think you’re always going to give them the benefit of the doubt that somehow we’re going to be able to get that out of him again, and I think that’s how you should look at every player.”
By giving Watson a clean slate and implementing a system that better suits his abilities, the Browns are keeping hope for the player who once led the league in passing (4,823 yards in 2020) and set a Texans franchise record with 33 touchdowns in the same season. The team hopes a new scheme and improved supporting cast will help Watson return to the pinpoint passing that made him one of the most feared young quarterbacks in the game.
Deshaun Watson #4 of the Houston Texans celebrates during an NFL game against the Tennessee Titans on January 3, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
From a schematic standpoint, Monken’s emphasis on deep passing and quick play from shotgun formations should take advantage of Watson’s abilities as a rhythm passer. The 6-foot-3, 223-pound Watson excelled at catch-it-and-break-it concepts early in his career based on his extensive experience throwing fastballs, screens and RPOs at Clemson. Additionally, he is an accurate passer on deep passes and his rainbow throws routinely fly over the defense.
The Texans took advantage of his skills by surrounding him with speedsters and catch-and-run specialists (Will Fuller, Brandin Cooks, Kenny Stills and Randall Cobb) who could track his deep throws or turn his quick passes into big gains on the perimeter. With perennial Pro Bowler DeAndre Hopkins dominating as WR1, the team put enough playmakers around Watson to allow him to target the entire field.
Cleveland can emulate that plan after drafting KC Concepción, Denzel Boston and Joe Royer last April to play alongside Jerry Jeudy, Isaiah Bond and Harold Fannin Jr. While the offseason moves weren’t made with Watson in mind, he should benefit from a more diverse and explosive receiving corps around him.
With a rebuilt offensive line that features a mix of veteran free agent signings and trade acquisitions (Zion Johnson, Elgton Jenkins and Tytus Howard) and a top-10 draft pick (Spencer Fano), the Browns have a set of “trench warriors” in front of Watson who should keep him upright and protected in the pocket. Additionally, the unit should get defenders off the ball to give the Browns a credible running game, thus relieving some of the pressure on the quarterback to carry the offense.
Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns watches a volunteer minicamp for veterans at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on April 21, 2026 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
While it’s hard to imagine a player bouncing back from a five-year stretch of poor play and injuries, Darnold just won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks after failing with the Jets and Panthers for five seasons before mastering his craft as a backup with the 49ers and delivering a spectacular campaign with the Vikings in 2024.
Mayfield also endured a rollercoaster ride as a former No. 1 overall pick who was waived by his original team (the Browns) and kicked out of his second team (the Panthers) before turning the corner with the Rams and Buccaneers.
Smith is probably the best example of an unlikely comeback after earning back-to-back Pro Bowl berths in Seattle (2022-23) after a six-year hiatus as a starter. He served as a backup in four different organizations before eventually replacing Russell Wilson as the Seahawks’ starter after a two-year apprenticeship. The veteran’s odyssey shows the importance of finding the right scheme and environment to flourish as a starter.
Plus, it’s a story that should give Browns fans hope that Watson, should he win the starting job, can play like the franchise quarterback Dawg Pound hoped he would be all along, if only for one season.
