New report details what the Browns are planning to do with Deshaun Watson
The Cleveland Browns switched up their quarterback room this week while Deshaun Watson has continued rehabbing from his ruptured Achilles tendon.
Kevin Stefanski announced that Dillon Gabriel will be Cleveland’s starting quarterback against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 5. Some have speculated that Cleveland’s decision to bench veteran quarterback Joe Flacco could pave the way to seeing Watson in 2025.
But NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport doused cold water on any speculation that Watson could start games for the Browns this season.
Rapoport acknowledged that Cleveland benching Flacco likely signaled that the team was entering evaluation mode – trying to get an understanding of what their other quarterbacks are capable of. If the Browns elect to keep Watson on their roster, which they will as his entire 2026 salary is fully guaranteed, seeing him on the field would add to that evaluation.
However, Rapoport reported that Watson playing in 2025 is considered unlikely.
Some good info from Ian Rapoport here.
Shedeur Sanders is expected to play at some point this season while Deshaun Watson playing is not likely.
— Nick Pedone (@NickPedone12) October 4, 2025
While the Browns will not be able to rule out the possibility of Watson starting games again, the theory seems increasingly farfetched, especially after owner Jimmy Haslam called the trade “a big swing and a miss” this offseason.
When the Browns gave up more than three first-round draft picks for Watson, nobody anticipated things going this poorly. However, the time off in Houston paired with an 11-game suspension proved too much for the $230 million quarterback to come back from.
The Watson trade will likely go down as the worst in NFL history, but that isn’t stopping the Browns’ brass from trying to be resourceful in order to move off of his massive salary. Gabriel or Sanders working out would clear up the picture for the Browns.
Cleveland has two first round picks next year, but Gabriel or Sanders emerging as an answer would allow the team to solve other holes offensively.
In the same report, Rapoport acknowledged that despite remaining the third quarterback on Cleveland’s depth chart, the Browns are expected to take a look at Sanders this season.
There’s no indication on how long Gabriel’s leash as the starting quarterback will be, but the Browns would prefer to put Sanders in the best situation possible, starting him with a full week of preparation and a gameplan that fits his skillset.
While the Browns are expected to keep making quarterback changes throughout the season, and Watson is getting closer to being medically cleared to play, it seems like Cleveland is ready to turn the page on one of the worst trades in the history of sports.
Commanders end years of frustration with bold 2026 mock draft pick
The Washington Commanders' defensive front has been a pleasant surprise through the first four weeks of the season. However, this area of the field is one that general manager Adam Peters will look to improve next spring.
Peters never stands still. He is always looking for ways to enhance the roster, and he's been aggressive in his quest to keep the Commanders in contention. But for his long-term strategy to bear fruit in the coming years, the front-office leader needs to build through the draft for sustained growth.
Finding veteran free agents capable of helping immediately was a necessary evil for Peters, thanks in no small part to four years of terrible drafts from the previous head coach and primary decision-maker, Ron Rivera. That'll suffice for now, but it can't be an ongoing trend.
Commanders bet on Quincy Rhodes Jr. in CBS Sports' latest mock draft
Mike Renner from CBS Sports agrees. The draft analyst thought betting on the upside of defensive lineman Quincy Rhodes Jr. could be a possibility for the Commanders, something that would provide the trenches with another explosive weapon that can be molded into a valuable contributor.
[Quincy] Rhodes is one of the biggest risers in college football this season in his first year as a starter. The 6-foot-6, 275-pounder has 18 pressures already this season. He's still raw, but the physical tools are good enough to still go high.Mike Renner
Rhodes has propelled himself into first-round consideration after a phenomenal season for the Arkansas Razorbacks thus far. He's ferocious off the snap, boasting a sound blend of burst and violent hands that make things extremely difficult for opposing offensive linemen. There are some technical flaws to address, but the Commanders' high-caliber coaching staff possesses the necessary credentials to maximize his influence.
The Commanders don't have much high-end draft capital after some frantic trade activity from Peters in recent months. That makes hitting on their first-rounder all the more critical, so betting on an athletically gifted but raw prospect might not be in the team's best interests.
It's impossible to determine for sure at this time. There is a long way to go and a lot of football — both at the NFL and collegiate levels — left to play before the all-important draft assessment process takes center stage. But it's not hard to see why Rhodes will be emerging on the draft radars around the league.
Peters will have a plan in mind. That could change, but the Commanders could do far worse than examine Rhodes' capabilities in greater detail.
