'Deshaun Watson isn't relevant': Damien Woody's brutal prediction for Browns QB job

The Deshaun Watson era in Cleveland has been a disaster wrapped in a nightmare, and ESPN’s Damien Woody didn't hold back. Speaking on First Take, Woody assessed the Browns messy quarterback situation, and gave Shedeur Sanders a better-than-even chance to start Week 1.

"I guess over 50%," Woody said of Sanders taking the reins. "Right now you're talking about between him and Deshaun Watson... Deshaun Watson hasn't been relevant since 2020."

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It’s a brutal reality check, but the numbers back it up.

Since his blockbuster trade in 2022, Watson has been a ghost. Between a massive suspension and back-to-back season-ending injuries—including two Achilles surgeries that cost him the entire 2025 campaign—Watson has played in just 19 games over four years. When he has suited up, the production has been below average at best, often ranking near the bottom of the league in yards per attempt.

The connection with the city is just as broken. Fans at Huntington Bank Field famously booed Watson during his injury exit in 2024, a sign that the "big swing-and-miss" (as owner Jimmy Haslam called it) has reached a breaking point.

Meanwhile, Shedeur Sanders showed flashes of having the "it" factor during his seven starts last year. New head coach Todd Monken has already praised Sanders’ pocket presence and playmaking knack at the Combine.

With Watson’s health a permanent question mark and his "relevance" fading, Woody and many NFL insiders, believe the Browns should be emphatically turning the page to Sanders.

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