Deshaun Watson was named the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback for the 2026 NFL regular season on Monday. Watson was locked in a quarterback competition over the preseason with second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Despite not playing since 2024, head coach Kevin Stefanski declared that Watson gave the team the best opportunity to win.
Cleveland drafted wide receivers KC Concepcion with the No. 24 overall pick in the first round and Denzel Boston with the No. 39 overall pick in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft to add offensive depth for the 2026 season. Second-year players running back Quinshon Judkins and tight end Harold Fannin Jr. are also returning after breaking out as rookies.
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Veteran tight end David Njoku left the Browns after nine seasons, leaving Fannin Jr. alone at the position. It appears that the Browns are set at the position heading into the regular season, as it was reported Monday that tight end Dea’Quan Wright was released.
Wright went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-4 tight end caught 39 passes for 635 yards and five touchdowns under head coach Lane Kiffin in 2025. Due to a recent Louisiana state court ruling, Wright and other 2022 high school graduates were granted a fifth year of college eligibility.
Wright played under Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels during the 2025 college football regular season. Due to the ruling and now being released, Wright reportedly has an agreement in place to join Kiffin and the LSU Tigers for the 2026 college football regular season.
“Browns now officially have waived TE Dea’Quan Wright,” Schefter wrote on X. “Who is on the verge of becoming the first player to go from an NFL roster back to college football. Wright has an agreement in place with LSU if he goes unclaimed on waivers.”
Cleveland will open the 2026 NFL regular season on the road at EverBank Stadium to face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. ET.
