Just when you thought the Browns' quarterback room couldn't get any more crowded or complicated ... well, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk says hold that thought.
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The signing of Tyler Huntley already had people buzzing about Cleveland carrying five quarterbacks. But according to Florio, they're actually up to six. Deshaun Watson is still in the building, still under contract, and still trying to work his way back from a twice-torn Achilles.
At some point, he'll be cleared. And when that happens, Florio says things could get messy in a hurry.
The Browns may prefer to keep Watson on the physically unable to perform list all season. That way, they get maximum insurance coverage and potentially some cap relief. Doesn't matter if he's on the active roster or not. He still gets paid.
But if Watson returns with a doctor's note saying he's ready to go, the Browns can't just ignore it. They'd either have to add him to the 53-man roster or release him. And that's where things could really unravel.
Florio points out that if the Browns decide Watson isn't healthy, and Watson insists he is, it could lead to a formal grievance. The player says he's ready. The team says he's not.
Meanwhile, the financial implications are massive. If Cleveland cuts him, Florio notes that they're staring at a potential dead cap hit of $131.161 million in 2026. They'll be absorbing that money eventually either way, but this would be a nuclear option.
The Browns' best-case scenario? Florio says it's convincing Watson to stay on the shelf for the year. But why would Watson agree to that? Especially after owner Jimmy Haslam admitted earlier this year that the Watson trade and fully guaranteed contract were, in his words, "a big swing and a miss."
Watson has every reason to want back on the field. He wants to prove Haslam wrong. He wants to prove he can still play and play well.
So yes, Cleveland's quarterback situation already feels jam-packed. But as Florio notes, it could still go downhill from here. Especially if Deshaun Watson walks into the building, ready to suit up
