Who Should I Start? Deshaun Watson or Kyler Murray

Saturday, December 6, 9:14 PM

The Cleveland Browns are planning to keep quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) on their roster next season, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. While Watson is considered unlikely to play this season as he continues to recover from a torn Achilles that required multiple surgeries, the team has expressed interest in keeping him on the roster, noting that the 30-year-old's veteran presence is valuable for their pair of rookie quarterbacks in Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. Another big reason Watson is expected to return is due to the fact that the Browns would have to take on a dead salary of close to $135 million if they released him before June 1 and a $53 million cap charge if he was designated as a post-June 1 cap casualty. The record for dead-cap money was set by the Denver Broncos with quarterback Russell Wilson at $85 million, which they split into two years, but releasing Watson would cost the Browns significantly more. With Watson set to return in 2026, he's expected to compete with Sanders and Gabriel for Cleveland's starting gig.

Saturday, December 6, 12:19 PM

Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports that "it wouldn't surprise a lot of league executives if the Cardinals decide to move on" from quarterback Kyler Murray (foot) after the 2025 season. Murray has not played since Week 5 due to a foot injury, and reportedly will not return this season. The 28-year-old struggled across five starts, completing 68.3% of his pass attempts for 962 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions. He has roughly $37 million in fully guaranteed money remaining on his current contract, but Russini reports that the Cardinals could "try to trade him or simply release him." In the midst of a disastrous 2025 season, it appears Arizona is looking to hit the reset button heading into 2026. There will almost certainly be interest from quarterback-needy teams in Murray in the offseason, but his contract could be a complicating factor in trade negotiations.