Lance Zierlein#11 of 87 NFL pundits · May 22, 2026

Lance believes Cleveland will hand Deshaun Watson the starting quarterback job to remove the circus element from the situation.

Said on air, transcribed by us · John and Lance — ESPN Houston (podcast)Hear the original

Waitinggraded once the result is in

What Lance Zierlein said

I think they wanna take all the circus element out of it and give Deshaun the first shot.

Our reading: Deshaun Watson to be 1st on the depth chart

Where it was said: John and Lance — ESPN Houston (podcast)
The episode: 5/22 Hour 1: AFC South Player Power Rankings: How many Texans make the top 10?
The original: Hear the original
Read it wrong?: Tell us and we will look

How the call scored

One checkable claim, graded on its own against what actually happened.

It names 2 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

Nothing to score yet: this grades once the result is in.

Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.

The call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same call; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.

Where this call stands in the room

Deshaun Watson · 2026 season

Lance Zierlein — 1the room — 79 calls from 42 punditsmedian 1

Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.

Their call against the room

1They said

1The room (42 pundits)

Their call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.

Depth Chart Calls Deshaun Watson Cleveland Browns
Deshaun Watson to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
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Who this take is about

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Others on the same people

Rich Eisen · Trade and Signing Calls · Myles Garrett · Hit 100
Discussing Myles Garrett's trade request, Eisen said they expect Garrett to get their way and be moved out of Cleveland rather than stay, which is why staying would be shocking.
Doug Joubert · Score Predictions · Cleveland Browns · Miss 26
Joubert picks the Browns to win 28-17, saying the Saints haven't improved over the first half of the season despite Cleveland starting Shedeur Sanders.
Pat McAfee · Game Outcome Picks · Cleveland Browns · Miss 0
McAfee picked the Browns, with Shedeur Sanders starting, to beat the Saints in New Orleans.
Michael Moore · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
In a Week 9 injury roundup, Moore forecast which banged-up fantasy contributors would play or sit: Deshaun Watson, Garrett Wilson, David Montgomery, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrance Ferguson are expected out, while Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, Michael Wilson, Christian Watson and Emeka Egbuka should play. They also expect Shedeur Sanders and Drew Lock to start at quarterback.
Zachary Pereles · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
Pereles writes that if Deshaun Watson can't clear concussion protocol in time, the Browns would likely turn to second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders to start Week 9 against the Saints.
Mitchell Eisenstein · Game Outcome Picks · Cleveland Browns · Miss 0
Mitchell gave their Week 9 top-five power rankings, keeping Buffalo first and the 49ers second while elevating the Bears, Jaguars and Lions, and picked a slate of Week 9 games including a Packers win in New England, a Panthers upset of Denver, and blowouts for Detroit, Kansas City and Houston. They also tabbed Jonah Coleman as a late-season Offensive Rookie of the Year pick.

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Brener picked the Seahawks to beat the Cardinals in Week 9 by a multi-score margin, giving a final score of 27-13, and expressed confidence Seattle would be fine with Drew Lock starting at quarterback.
Jeremy Brener · Depth Chart Calls · Jalen Milroe · Miss 0
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