Browns Officially Name Deshaun Watson Week 1 Starter Because The Contract Demands It

The Cleveland Browns have officially named Deshaun Watson their starting quarterback for Week 1, proving once again that a fully guaranteed contract is the most powerful force in the universe.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the decision on Monday, confirming that Watson held off Shedeur Sanders in training camp to secure the top job. Rapoport noted that Watson was the favorite going in, and now the title is officially his.

"Ian Rapoport noted Watson was 'the favorite going into camp. Now the starter, officially.'"

Calling this a true quarterback competition is like calling a rigged carnival game a test of skill. When a franchise is tied to a contract that massive, the guy making the historic money is going to get every possible chance to justify it, even if his lower body has been held together by hope and medical tape for the last two years.

For context, Watson is trying to bounce back from a brutal stretch of injuries, including a second Achilles tear and a subsequent rehab setback in early 2025. The last time we saw him play a meaningful stretch in 2024, he managed just 1,148 passing yards and five touchdowns over seven games while taking a staggering 33 sacks.

The Browns just got dismantled 31-7 by the Buffalo Bills in preseason action, which hardly inspires confidence for the current state of the offense. Starting Watson over Sanders delays the new era in Cleveland, but it also puts a massive target on the veteran's back the second he steps onto the field.

Bettors looking at Cleveland's Week 1 lines finally have their clarity under center, but the leash here is going to be microscopic. If Watson looks anything like the guy who was taking sacks at a historic rate before his latest Achilles tear, the stadium will be chanting for Sanders before the first quarter is even over.