Deshaun Watson Sends Message on ‘Respect’ as Shedeur Sanders Called Better by NFL Legend With ‘PhD in QBs’

With four healthy QBs but five on the payroll, the Browns are looking to correct their mistake. No, we aren’t talking about Shedeur Sanders or Dillon Gabriel. It’s Deshaun Watson. He is busy nursing his torn Achilles and might not be able to play next season, but it looks like even if he were healthy, the team would have still preferred to move on from him. With two seasons still left on a deal that was the largest contract and most guaranteed money given out in NFL history, the front office isn’t nearly close to seeing returns on this investment in the 19 games he started in three seasons. He walked into 2024 with franchise QB expectations but limped out after just seven games.

Translation? Okay, we are going to come out and say it: That’s the worst deal in the history of the NFL. And it took long enough for team owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam to finally admit their mistake: “We took a big swing and miss with Deshaun.” Swing and miss for a deal that stripped them of three first-round picks that were handed over to Houston while fully guaranteeing a $230 million contract. Jimmy spoke of accountability and promised, “We’ve got to dig ourselves out of that hole.”

So, going into the 2025 NFL Draft, the team was looking for the quarterback and accumulating as many good football players as possible. While it was good news for the rookies, an injured Watson had to take Jimmy’s public statements at face value. Unfortunately, it will be a while before both sides can part ways. Deshaun Watson has a couple of more years left on his contract, and yes, while the Browns can release him, they would still have to face the massive cap hit of $72.9 million and a dead cap hit of $172.2 million, and not to forget, pay every penny of the remaining yet guaranteed $92 million. Knowing that the team isn’t happy is rough enough, but the QB is keeping his head high by reclaiming the narrative.

The Browns quarterback dropped a new motivational video on Instagram, captioned, “Respect Your Journey! 4OVE.” In it, Watson is seen training hard, throwing passes in the gym, grinding through workouts, and showing the grit and discipline fans once expected. The message? He’s still locked in. Still chasing. Still believing. He also added an audio of Kendrick Lamar’s motivational words from 2022: “Do you be yourself and make sure that you love being yourself. It’s gonna be roadblocks, it’s gonna be tribulations, but always remember this is a life experience.

“Accept the experience, appreciate the experience, and learn how to move on from things that don’t serve you well, you know, and find your journey.”

The video comes after a lackluster 2024 season. Watson’s performance with the Browns was anything but smooth last season. He struggled to find rhythm, often failing to cross even 200 passing yards per game. In seven starts, he threw just five touchdowns, far below expectations for someone wearing the franchise QB label. The inconsistency wasn’t just physical. Critics questioned his confidence, his decision-making, and his ability to lead. Then came Achilles’ tear in Week 7 against the Bengals, which ended his season on a sour note. He finished with 137 completions on 216 attempts for 1,148 yards.

The numbers were forgettable, the impact minimal.

And with the Browns’ QB1 spot starting to look unstable, the door has cracked open for someone else. Prominent analysts are already floating names like Shedeur Sanders as serious contenders for the job.

“Trust Me I Know QBs”: NFL legend votes Shedeur Sanders over Deshaun Watson

The heat around Shedeur Sanders hasn’t cooled, but something’s shifted. Once the target of criticism and memes, Sanders is now being backed by some heavy voices. In a recent Instagram video posted by @speakonfs1, the tone was different. The caption? “Shedeur is better than Dillon Gabriel, Kenny Pickett, & Joe Flacco.” That’s not just fan speculation—that’s former No. 1 NFL Draft pick and Super Bowl champ Keyshawn Johnson going all in on Sanders.

“I have a PhD in quarterback observation. Trust me. He’s the best quarterback in the room. I have a PhD in quarterbacking. And I’ll say it here loud and clear. Nobody knows quarterback play like me,” Johnson started. Coming from someone with three Pro Bowl nods and a respected TV career post-retirement, that carries weight.

Johnson, a former wide receiver who played 11 seasons in the league and won a title with the Buccaneers, didn’t hold back. “He’s better than Dylan Gabriel. He’s better than Kenny Pickett. He’s better than an old Joe Flacco that’s going to give you three, four games, but can’t give you 17.” He wasn’t speculating—he was declaring. And with Cleveland’s QB room in flux, Johnson made it clear who he thinks gives them the best chance to win.

Backing Johnson’s claims are the hard numbers. In 2024, Sanders passed for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns at Colorado, leading them to a 9–4 season. He earned top marks for accuracy, poise in the pocket, and decision-making. Despite the noise around his off-field image and viral watch-flex moments, the on-field results are speaking louder now. Slowly, the narrative is changing—from distraction to potential franchise QB.

And then there’s Deshaun Watson. Johnson gave a subtle but telling take on the Browns’ last season starter. “Deshaun Watson is, you know, he’s rehabbing. So he’s out in the back room somewhere. That’s the way I look at it.” It was part-jab, part-truth. For Johnson, Watson isn’t ready to lead. And maybe, just maybe, the future of the Browns is already in the room with Shedeur Sanders under center. What do you think?