When the Cleveland Browns named Deshaun Watson their starting quarterback for the 2026 season, many wrote it off as a laughable decision.

However, through four games, Watson has exceeded expectations, leading the Browns to a 3-1 start.

As the New York Jets prepare for their Week 4 matchup against Watson and the Browns, Jets defensive coordinator Brian Duker is seeing flashes of Watson’s Houston Texans form, the peak of his career, when he was a three-time Pro Bowler.

“I can’t speak on the past, but I did play him when he was in Houston, and that’s kind of what I’m seeing on tape right now,” Duker told the media on Thursday. “That’s the familiarity I have of seeing him doing a good job in the drop-back pass game, and he still has the athleticism, so it gives him a dual-threat, and he’s throwing the ball well. I think he’s doing a very good job.” 

First-year Browns head coach Todd Monken has Watson playing at his best level since joining the organization on a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract, which is still one of the worst deals in NFL history. Among 26 qualified QBs this year (minimum 100 dropbacks), Watson ranks sixth in completion rate (69.6%) and eighth in passer rating (101.2).

JET XFront Office
2027 OFFSEASON · OCT 27

What’s your first offseason move?

Opening roster · Choose one move

Effective cap$78.58MStarting snapshot
Roster41Starting snapshot
2027 picks9Starting snapshot
Choose one to see the results.

The thinking behind the decision

Set the direction.
Own the decision.

Start with an in-house decision. Keep the roster intact, bring Geno Smith back, or move on from one of the listed veterans. Each choice changes the same opening snapshot; choices do not stack inside this poll.

Re-signing Smith requires a new contract. A release creates dead money, and a trade needs another club to agree. The offers here are prepared scenarios, not reports or guaranteed outcomes.

October 27 draft-order update: $97.13M projected total cap room minus $18.56M net draft reserve = $78.58M effective room; 41 signed players and 9 picks. Financial inputs remain the October 24 reviewed 2027 projections. Unreported contract terms are not invented.

Watson is among the main reasons why the Browns are on a three-game win streak. The arrival of Monken, who helped Lamar Jackson win an MVP award with the Baltimore Ravens, has clearly improved Watson’s play.

We will see if he can keep it up over a 17-game season, but Watson’s start has been impressive, and Duker has taken note as the Jets prepare to face the 31-year-old.