Chad Ochocinco hints at Week 3 crossroads for Deshaun Watson's Browns future

The Cleveland Browns have made a puzzling decision to name Deshaun Watson their starting quarterback over Shedeur Sanders. This move comes as no surprise, considering the Browns' history of alternating between various starting quarterbacks since 1999. Both Watson and Sanders have had similar performances during the offseason competition.

However, Watson outshone Sanders in the preseason opener against the Chicago Bears, while Sanders excelled in the following game against the Buffalo Bills. Despite these results, head coach Todd Monken believes Watson provides the best chance for the team to advance in the season.

The decision to start Watson is largely influenced by his multi-year, $230 million contract that the Browns signed in March 2022. Although the contract has resulted in a disappointing 9-10 record, a subpar 80.7 passer rating, and limited passing yards, the organization has opted to give Watson one final opportunity to rekindle his performance from his three Pro Bowl seasons with the Houston Texans (2018-2020).

Moreover, Watson's contract has led the team's owner, Jimmy Haslam, to admit that they made a "big swing and miss" with his signing.

While the choice to start Watson is at odds with the Browns' current situation, the team has ample time during the regular season to assess Watson's performance and potentially bench him in favor of Sanders if necessary. With two road games against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the opening weeks, a poor start from Watson could further alienate the already frustrated fan base.

However, the Browns' strategy of starting Watson provides an opportunity to thoroughly evaluate his abilities and potentially restart their quarterback carousel before the anticipated 2027 draft class arrives.