Who Should I Start? Deshaun Watson or Kenny Pickett

Thursday, April 10, 7:45 PM

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) posted an Instagram video this week of him working out in Browns gear with a message for the doubters. "Everyone don't think I can get back to where I was. But I know...I'm gonna be way better than before." Watson's time as a Brown has been forgettable, with injuries and off-field issues marring his tenure with the team, and we'll have to wait longer than expected to see him again. After re-rupturing his Achilles tendon in early January, the 29-year-old is slated to miss significant time in the 2025 campaign. The Clemson product was once on an early-career superstar trajectory with the Texans. However, he's yet to recapture even an iota of his former success since holding out with Houston in 2021. Whether Watson will be a viable fantasy asset again remains to be seen, and he'll have some work to do before getting another shot on the field. It wouldn't be surprising if we didn't see him return to action in 2025.

Monday, April 28, 4:10 PM

Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports that the Cleveland Browns will not pick up quarterback Kenny Pickett's fifth-year option. It isn't a surprise, considering Pickett hasn't exactly shown out when given the chance. The 26-year-old is on his fourth team in four seasons after the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted him No. 20 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. Pickett played second fiddle to Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts last season, appearing in five games, though he only attempted a pass in three of them. In two seasons with the Steelers, the Pittsburgh product put together an underwhelming 4,474-yard line on a 63% completion percentage with a 13:13 TD:INT ratio in 25 games (24 starts). He may get a shot at some in-game action this season, but it's difficult to tell when (or if) that may be due to the presence of veteran Joe Flacco and recently acquired draftees Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel.