Who Should I Start? Deshaun Watson or Mac Jones

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.

Sunday, November 16, 8:11 AM

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones will head back to the bench ahead of the Week 11 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. Jones has started in each of the last six games while Brock Purdy (toe) was sidelined. Now, Purdy is ready to play, so Jones will return to being the backup. However, Jones was impressive during his time as the starter. He threw for 2,151 yards with 13 touchdowns and six interceptions in eight games. It sounds like this solid play has made him a prime trade candidate for the 2026 season. Jones is still under control with the organization after signing a two-year, seven million deal with the organization this offseason. Purdy is viewed as the franchise quarterback in San Francisco, so moving Jones makes sense. Given his play this season, Jones should draw some interest in the trade market. This is something to monitor during the offseason.