Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken finally delivered the answer on Wednesday to the question that has kept the NFL on edge since Sunday evening.
Deshaun Watson is indeed returning as the team’s starting quarterback for this Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans.
It was the only logical decision for Monken to make given that Watson helped the Browns to a 5-3 record before missing last week’s overtime loss to the New Orleans Saints with a concussion.
Because this is Monken’s first year in Cleveland,
a town where manufactured quarterback debates go to thrive, he seemed genuinely puzzled on Wednesday about why he would need to make a formal announcement about the starting quarterback:
“I don’t even know why I have to say it publicly, because it’s really only our business in terms of who’s going to play and who’s not going to play. But I mean, he played well enough to earn to still be our starter.”
Even though the Browns now have their starting quarterback established for the rest of this season, there are still going to be questions about what they will do in 2027.
Watson’s contract is up at the end of this season, and no matter what happens the rest of the way, the Browns really need to move on from the most controversial quarterback that has ever been on the roster.
That leaves Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, both destined for careers as backup quarterbacks, and rookie Taylen Green, whose future role in the NFL has yet to be determined.
So the Browns will need a new starting quarterback – or at least a rookie that projects to actually be a starting quarterback – which should lead general manager Andrew Berry to select one in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Berry will be holding a pair of first-round selections come draft, both Cleveland’s and the one received from the Los Angeles Rams as part of the Myles Garrett trade, but neither appears as if they will be at the top of the draft.
Which means that Berry will have to either work a trade or wait and see who might fall to him on draft night.
That is the path that The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner sees Berry taking in this Round 1 mock draft, with Baumgardner projecting that the Browns will be selecting at No. 15 and No. 19 overall.
With quarterbacks Drew Mestemaker (Miami at No. 3) and CJ Carr (New York Jets at No. 6) off the board, but with (gasp!) Arch Manning still in the green room, the Browns select Clemson defensive end Will Heldt with their first pick:
Big enough, at 6-6, 260, to be an edge setter, Heldt is also crafty enough with his hands to rack up pass-rush wins. His build somewhat resembles that of Aidan Hutchinson.
Heldt is in his second season with the Tigers after playing two years at Purdue. In 46 career games so far, he has 146 tackles, 19.5 sacks, and 37.5 tackles for loss.
Four picks later at No. 19, Berry finally ends the suspense, and the Browns select quarterback Darian Mensah from Miami:
The College Football Playoff — assuming Miami gets in, as it should — figures to be a huge stretch for Mensah. The Hurricanes’ star has the potential to be a top-10 pick, but he still needs to show more consistency, both downfield and as a processor when facing high-level teams. His arrow is firmly pointed up, though.
Mensah is in his first season with the Hurricanes after playing one season at Tulane (2024) and one at Duke (2025). In helping Miami to an 8-1 record, Mensah is completing 76.8 percent of his passes for 2,694 yards, 28 touchdowns, and just two interceptions.
Two first-round picks and the Browns add an impact player on defense and take their latest and greatest shot at fixing the quarterback situation.
What do you think? Would you be happy with those picks, or would you prefer that Berry goes in a different direction? Let everyone know in the comments!
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