Deshaun Watson has steered the Cleveland Browns to three straight wins and a 3-1 start, yet NFL analyst Albert Breer says the quarterback still has more to prove before the team should count on him long term.
Breer argued that Watson has not yet shown enough to lock in the Browns’ plans at the position.
“I think he has to do more. I don’t think we’re there yet,” Breer said.
Watson is in the final season of the five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million contract he signed in 2022. Any decision to keep him as a starter beyond this year would require the Browns to rework or extend that deal.
The recent streak has given Cleveland breathing room. Watson has engineered a go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter of each of the last three victories.
His strongest recent outing came in the Oct. 1 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cleveland held on for a 27-24 victory after Watson completed 24 of 33 passes for 268 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
He also directed the late possession that set up Andre Szmyt’s game-winning 56-yard field goal. Watson lost a fumble and threw an interception in the second half as an 11-point lead narrowed.
“Second half, I made it harder on us. I have to protect the ball,” Watson said after the game.
Through four games, Watson has completed 69.6 percent of his passes for 855 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions. He has added 127 rushing yards on 31 carries.
Those numbers come after he missed the entire 2025 season following a second Achilles surgery. He returned as the starter under first-year coach Todd Monken.
The Browns hold two first-round picks in the 2027 draft, one of them acquired from the Los Angeles Rams in the Myles Garrett trade. That capital gives them options if they choose to draft a quarterback next spring.
Breer cautioned against rushing into a high pick.
“When you go all-in on a quarterback in the top 10, you better make sure you’re getting it right because you’re tying your job security to that guy,” Breer said.
He pointed to the Kansas City Chiefs’ path after Andy Reid arrived, when Alex Smith kept the team competitive before Patrick Mahomes was drafted. Breer said a reliable veteran can create similar room to maneuver.
“I think it’s going to take some more time for Deshaun to get to the point where you feel that way about him,” Breer said. “I do think there’s a world where they’re drafting too low next year to end up with whoever it is who goes in the top five, or maybe they don’t like the options they have in front of them at No. 7 or 8 if they’re picking there. Having that flexibility to not force it with a young quarterback, I think, is gold.”
Cleveland visits the New York Jets in Week 5. Another win would push the streak to four games and give Watson more tape as the contract deadline approaches.
The Browns have not committed to any plan beyond the current season. Watson’s remaining games will shape whether that changes.
