Stephen A. Smith Feels Browns Should Give Deshaun Watson One “Last Chance” as Starting Quarterback Over Shedeur Sanders

Veteran ESPN contributor, Stephen A. Smith suggested that the Browns should give Deshaun Watson one last chance before his contract runs out at the end of the 2026 season.

Stephen A. Smith Feels Browns Should Give Deshaun Watson One “Last Chance” as Starting Quarterback Over Shedeur Sanders

Deshaun Watson and Stephen A. Smith (Image via IMAGO/X)

Deshaun Watson is a three-time Pro Bowl quarterback and led the league in passing yards in 2020. That was before he moved to the Cleveland Browns, who acquired him in a blockbuster trade. Since ditching the AFC West for the North, Watson has played a total of 19 games in four years. He sat out the entire 2025 season after re-rupturing his Achilles tendon in his right leg.

Watson is back in the fold once again ahead of the 2026 NFL season. However, he’s facing tough competition from second-year signal caller Shedeur Sanders. Watson has the experience but has been out of action for more than 18 months. Sanders, meanwhile, appeared in 8 games (seven starts) and posted a 3-4 record.

Moreover, the Browns hired Todd Monken as the new head coach in the offseason following the departure of Kevin Stefanski. Monken managed the Baltimore Ravens’ offense before taking the Cleveland job and even tried to woo Sanders to choose Baltimore over other teams last year.

Monken loves Sanders, but he’s not ready to commit to naming him the starter even though the crowd wants to see the University of Colorado alum under center from week one.

Stephen A. Smith proposed a different opinion. In the latest episode of ESPN’s First Take, Smith suggested that the Browns should start Watson.

I think it’s best for the organization and the city to give Deshaun Watson every last chance imaginable to justify that bag that he got. This is the last chance.

Stephen A. Smith said

Watson signed a five-year contract worth $230 million in 2022. His contract runs through the 2026 season. According to Spotrac, Watson is due to earn $34.8 million, has a cap hit of $44.95 million, and a dead cap charge of $131.16 million.

Browns insider gives update on the quarterback situation involving Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders

The Browns recently held their voluntary workout session at their facility. Watson, Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel attended the camp. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported that Watson emerged as the early favorite to star for the Browns in the upcoming season.

Stephen A. Smith Feels Browns Should Give Deshaun Watson One "Last Chance" as Starting Quarterback Over Shedeur Sanders
Deshaun Watson (Image via IMAGO)

Deshaun Watson emerged from the Browns voluntary minicamp last week with an edge over Shedeur Sanders in the two-man quarterback competition — and has the inside track to be named the Browns QB1.

Cabot wrote

Cabot further added that coach Monken hopes to make his decision about the starter in June.

[Coach Monken] hopes to declare — or at least identify — his starter by the end of Browns minicamp June 9-11, meaning Sanders has about six weeks to close the gap and try to overtake the former three-time Pro Bowler.

The Browns drafted a quarterback in the 2026 draft

Cleveland took Gabriel and Sanders in back-to-back rounds last year. Despite that, general manager Andrew Berry decided to use the No. 182 overall pick in the sixth round of the 2026 draft to select another quarterback. Berry took Arkansas alum, Taylen Green.

He has rare physical gifts. There’s work to do, but he has the tools and mindset to develop.

Berry said

Green spent the first three years of his college football career at Boise State. He transferred to Arkansas in 2024 and ended his junior year with a 7-6 record. However, he struggled to deliver wins in his senior year, finishing with a 2-9 record.

At the combine, Green completed his 40-yard dash in 4:36 seconds and posted a vertical jump of 43.5. This improved his draft stock overnight from going undrafted to a late fifth- to sixth-round prospect.

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