Report: Browns' Watson 'an awesome teammate' to rookies amid QB competition

The Cleveland Browns have been impressed with Deshaun Watson's leadership in the quarterback room while recovering from an Achilles tear, according to Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot.

Watson has been "an awesome teammate" to rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, mentoring the young signal-callers in preparation for their first year in the league, sources told Cabot. He's reportedly specifically taken Sanders under his wing to help him with the jump from college to the NFL.

The 29-year-old is set to miss most, if not all, of the 2025 season after re-rupturing his Achilles in January. The first Achilles tear came in October during a Week 7 contest against the Cincinnati Bengals. He'll likely begin the season on the physically unable to perform list.

Watson has reportedly been throwing to wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and David Bell without a walking boot since last month. He is set to have a $39.5-million cap hit this season, according to Over The Cap, after his five-year, $230-million fully guaranteed contract was restructured. Watson is under contract through the 2026 season, with void years attached to his deal until 2030.

The Browns will enter training camp with Gabriel, Sanders, Joe Flacco, and Kenny Pickett as the four quarterbacks on the roster. Cleveland has run an open competition, and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees said in early June that any of the four has a chance to win the starting job.