Ryan Fitzpatrick has never been one to shy away from a bold take, but his latest prediction about the Cleveland Browns' quarterback situation might be his most daring yet. During Thursday night's preseason broadcast of the Browns-Patriots game, Fitzpatrick didn't just hint at Deshaun Watson's struggles—he declared them inevitable.
"I think this is set up here for Shedeur… once (Deshaun Watson) fails, Shedeur is going to jump into this thing, and he's going to be the guy, and this city is going to be behind him," Fitzpatrick said from the broadcast booth, alongside Kirk Herbstreit.
Herbstreit, clearly taken aback by the bluntness, pressed Fitzpatrick on whether he truly believed Watson would fail as a starter. The former NFL quarterback didn't hesitate. "Yeah. It's gonna happen," he replied, doubling down on his conviction.
The moment quickly went viral, with fans and analysts alike reacting to Fitzpatrick's unvarnished take. Some applauded his honesty, while others noted that predicting Watson's downfall is hardly a hot take these days. "Bookmarking this post to repost it in the midseason, when Fitz is proven right," one fan tweeted. Another wrote, "Obviously Watson will fail. Everyone knows this but Monken and Haslam, apparently."
Fitzpatrick's comments come amid a storm of controversy surrounding Watson's tenure in Cleveland. The Browns have stuck with Watson despite his front office reportedly overruling the coaching staff on the decision to start him. Meanwhile, fans have expressed their frustration, with some even urging a boycott of games until Watson is benched.
Adding to the drama, Shedeur Sanders, the rookie quarterback who has impressed during the preseason, has been benched despite fan outrage, as the team continues to back Watson. The situation has divided the fanbase, with many believing the team is making a massive mistake.
Watson's performance has been underwhelming, to say the least, and his massive contract has only amplified the scrutiny. The Browns open the regular season in Jacksonville in just over two weeks, and Watson will have to prove his doubters wrong—including Fitzpatrick, who has never been shy about calling it like he sees it.
"That's that Harvard education," one fan joked, referencing Fitzpatrick's Ivy League background. Indeed, Fitzpatrick's prediction has resonated with many who believe the writing is on the wall for Watson in Cleveland.
Whether Fitzpatrick's prophecy comes true remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the pressure on Watson has never been higher. With Sanders waiting in the wings and a city ready to rally behind a new face, the 2026 season could be a defining one for the Browns—and for Watson's career.
