What I'm Hearing: Deshaun Watson's Cleveland future, Jonathan Taylor rumors, Lions' LaPorta dilemma New York Times (Online) Jonathan Jones Despite what Mike Tomlin might say, six weeks into the season, the Browns are not the Browns. Cleveland is 4-2 and atop the AFC North with two wins in two games over division opponents. There's still a lot of season left, but the question is already being raised about what the Browns might do with Deshaun Watson. Watson is playing good, though maybe not great , football. He has three fourth-quarter comebacks and four game-winning drives. Could Watson, in the final year of his historic five-year, fully guaranteed contract, play his way into more years leading the Browns after four years of providing little resembling a return on investment? “That's way premature to talk about that,” Browns owner Jimmy Haslam told me in a Manhattan hotel lobby as NFL league meetings ended Wednesday. “We're just focused on beating the (Tennessee) Titans.” In this column, you'll read what I'm hearing about: · Jonathan Taylor's availability as the trade deadline nears; · More on the Jordan Elliott firearm incident in Tennessee; · How the NFL could adjust after the Jalen Hurts blood-clot situation; · Why time is of the essence for the Detroit Lions when it comes to Sam LaPorta; · The Falcons might have contributed to the latest front-office trend; · Vance Joseph earns his second head-coaching shot; · Steve Tisch's unchanging role for the Giants; · The NFL's unwavering intent to play in Paris on Sunday; · and more. But first, a look at a fascinating potential contract conundrum in Cleveland. ( Editor's note: For this column, team and league sources spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a player on another team or a matter on which they are not authorized to speak publicly.) The trade for Watson, involving three first-round picks and $230 million in fully guaranteed salary, has been hailed as among the worst deals in NFL history. Watson had to sit the first 11 games of his first season with the Browns while serving a league suspension following an arbiter's finding that he had committed multiple violations of the personal conduct policy by engaging in “predatory” and “egregious” conduct, alleged sexual harassment and sexual assault of massage therapists . Injuries kept him off the field for 38 of the next 51 games. Now, here he is, one of 11 quarterbacks who are at least two games above .500 going into Week 7. Whatever prediction market you use probably didn't account for this reality. Two months ago, most of the league anticipated Sunday's clash with the Titans would be between Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders. But Watson has played well enough to secure the starting job after missing all of last season following two separate Achilles tears. “People have to respect the way that he's battled back from the injuries,” Haslam says. “And then you look at the game-winning drives. We've got to be able to keep that up.” Watson's NFL future beyond this season will depend almost entirely on how these next few months go. As crazy as it may have seemed following his second Achilles tear, Watson could play his way into more years with Cleveland — or somewhere else. The injury history, the 27 civil lawsuits he settled plus the findings of the NFL's investigation (two grand juries declined to indict him on criminal charges) could be enough of a deterrent for other teams, almost regardless of how this season finishes. Even if a team didn't want him as a starter, he would be a high-end backup only if a team deemed him worth the trouble with the fan base. In Cleveland, he asserted himself as the clear QB1 over Sanders and Dillon Gabriel ( last week in this space I explained why trading Sanders before this year's trade deadline makes little sense.). The Browns own two first-round picks in the 2027 draft that could net them a quarterback of the future, but even that wouldn't necessarily preclude the team from bringing back Watson and starting him. “The door is wide open for him to be with the Browns,” says one league source. “It's the only line on a starting quarterback job he'll have. And even if you are in position to take one high, or get in position to do so, you're in no rush to play the rookie.” It's a scenario — under far different circumstances — that has played out in Las Vegas. The Raiders have older veteran Kirk Cousins who will start until his or the team's play determines it's time to turn to Fernando Mendoza. A second league source emphasized how difficult a negotiation it could be. On one hand, if Watson continues playing at this level, the team would feel the need to retain him. On the other hand, what leverage would he conceivably have outside of Cleveland? Because he's a starter, you would expect to have to pay him starter-level money in an NFL where the QB middle class has basically vanished. Even if Watson didn't live up to the last major contract, does that mean he has to take a discount on the next deal? If the Browns keep winning, these will be good problems to have — and problems few expected them to have to entertain this season. The Indianapolis Colts are not entertaining discussions of a potential Jonathan Taylor trade. At least not yet. Indianapolis is 2-4 and two games out of a wild-card spot. After speaking with sources in Indy and around the league, my understanding is that the team needs to see what the landscape is like in a few weeks before deciding on their star running back. “Indy ownership loves him,” says one team executive. “They'd have to drop more games to move him.” The Colts play the Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars and Dallas Cowboys before the Nov. 10 trade deadline. It would make some sense for the Colts, under interim general manager Ed Dodds, to at least wait until after the divisional game against the AFC South-leading Jags to decide on Taylor. The two-year extension Taylor signed in August hasn't even started yet. The 27-year-old back is coming off consecutive 1,400-yard rushing seasons and is one of the few bright spots for the 2026 Colts. Sources believe the New York Giants and Vikings could be potential suitors for Taylor if he's available for trade. The Colts could look to reclaim some draft capital after sending two first-round picks to the Jets for Sauce Gardner last year, and Taylor would be the most expedient route to a high pick. The Titans released Jordan Elliott this week, a few days after he pulled a gun from his car at the team facility following a practice-field argument with teammate JC Latham. After speaking with team and league sources this week, I fully understand why an outright release was the only option for the Titans. Titans coach Robert Saleh referred to Elliott's actions as “a cry for help,” noting that he has never had any previous arrests, that he's a good father and good husband and, up until this point at least, was well liked by his coaches and teammates. Here's what I know: After last Thursday's incident, the team reviewed security footage that showed Elliott getting the gun from his car. The incident itself lasted less than one minute and was defused by teammate John Franklin-Myers. Elliott did not enter the building with the gun. Having a firearm at an NFL facility is against league rules. Since that had been established, Elliott faces a suspension from the league, almost without question (possibly four games that could be served while he remains a free agent). As I understand, the Titans got Elliott set up with doctors and mental-health clinicians in the immediate aftermath of the incident. The team was playing on the road in Indianapolis a few days later, so no roster decision had to be made at the time. If the team wanted to place Elliott on the non-football injury list, they would've needed an eligible diagnosis. That also would have had to pass through the league's legal process. Such a decision would take time — maybe a matter of weeks — as the incident would hang over the organization. The Titans could have suspended Elliott. But once the suspension ended, he would have been allowed back in the building. In the cafeteria. At practice. In the locker room. It became clear to the organization that some substantial group of people would be uncomfortable sharing a workspace with someone who proved he was capable of such an action. It left the Titans with no choice but to release Elliott, but I'm also told that the team has set up resources that are still available to him even after they cut him. The NFLPA has also reached out to Elliott to make him aware of other resources. The NFL Players Association seeks a full investigation into the handling of Jalen Hurts' medical situation. That will take time. But even if it is determined everything was handled properly and this was an unfortunate episode, it could still bring about change. People deeply involved in this process point to Hurts and his agent releasing multiple joint statements with the team as some proof that he is not at odds with the team, its medical staff or the overall handling of his situation. That could change as more is learned, but that's the assumption within NFL circles. Earlier this week I asked Dr. Allen Sills two questions that, for us, are still unanswered. If an ultrasound was deemed necessary in London on Saturday, why was it not warranted Friday before Hurts left Philadelphia? And what is the league's understanding of when the superficial blood clot became deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and spread to the lungs? Sills' answer: “In both of those instances, we're really getting into patient privacy that we should respect in this case. Again, I respect the patient who happens to be a prominent player, and also the providers. I just go back to saying I think there was incredible vigilance; there was conservative care, state-of-the-art imaging that was done in London. “As far as the timing and the decision-making, I'll just reference back what I said before that I have great confidence in that and believe that everyone acted with an abundance of caution and with a tremendous, what we call, high degree of suspicion to try to identify and take care of these things as quickly as possible. And most importantly — and this is the most important thing — acted at every moment with the patient's best interest at heart. Regardless of their identity, that's really the most important thing.” While there are surely recommended medical practices, there isn't a collectively bargained league protocol on how to handle players with some form of clotting, regarding either playing or traveling to games. “Well, first of all, we don't have a protocol about this,” Sills said when asked whether league protocols were followed in this situation. “There are certain things we have protocols on, like concussion and heat and emergency preparedness. I'll just sum it up by saying that I have complete confidence in the Eagles medical staff and their handling of this situation, and I would characterize their work as very conservative, very patient-focused, and appropriately guarded at every step.” Of course it would be impossible for the league to have a protocol on every medical condition. There are nearly four full pages about concussion protocol enforcement and what happens if it's not followed within the CBA. But perhaps the seriousness of blood clots and, frankly, the popularity of this player may create some sort of protocol. If the game is domestic, would a player like Hurts still have flown back? Would there be private travel that could land in an emergency? If the game is international, like it was, what becomes the standard? Even if nothing untoward is found in this investigation, it could still bring rise to an established set of protocols the league winds up following for domestic and international contests. Things don't appear to be great between the Detroit Lions and tight end Sam LaPorta, but it is more likely than not that the two sides eventually reach an agreement on an extension before free agency. “(Lions GM) Brad Holmes does not like losing his draft picks, especially his high ones,” a league source says of LaPorta, a 2023 second-rounder. Recent Lions negotiations have tended to take some time to come together. It happened with running back Jahmyr Gibbs and offensive tackle Penei Sewell. Famously, Aidan Hutchinson's deal came in at $45 million per year when it might have been $10 million per year cheaper if it had gotten done one year earlier. The franchise tag for LaPorta would be around $17.5 million next year (according to OverTheCap's projections), but that's fully guaranteed with no cap flexibility. Also, the Raiders are unlikely to waste much time making Brock Bowers the highest-paid tight end in NFL history — maybe by a wide margin. George Kittle sits at the top of the market at $19.1 million per year. A league source estimated Bowers could get into the mid-20s, in large part because the Raiders paid a center $27 million per year who a) had never played a down for the team and b) never made an All-Pro team. With Bowers eligible for his extension in a few months, waiting would not behoove the Lions. Football loves itself a trend. We see it on the field: going under center, aggressiveness on fourth down. We see it in coach hiring cycles when the young offensive coordinators get snapped up. Might we see it at the top of organizations with great former quarterbacks? It's still too early to deem Matt Ryan a veritable success as president of football (great title) with the Atlanta Falcons, but the early returns are good. While Ian Cunningham is the GM in every traditional sense, Ryan is considered the Falcons' “primary football executive.” And some around the league are wondering if Peyton Manning might be that for the Colts after owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon fired longtime GM Chris Ballard . Irsay-Gordon didn't stop to speak to reporters this week at the league meetings. Our Jourdan Rodrigue did a great job scouring the landscape for who could be the next GM there . And almost immediately, people wondered whether Manning would give a lot (but not all) of what he does around football to run the Colts. Ryan isn't necessarily a trendsetter. John Elway was Denver's GM and EVP of football operations for a decade. Ozzie Newsome ran the Ravens organization, which was once the Cleveland Browns franchise with whom he had a Hall of Fame playing career. I checked in with a Falcons source about why it's working with Ryan in Atlanta. Here's what I got back: “Matt has said he wouldn't do the job anywhere else. Unique knowledge of the owner, club, culture, core values, love for city, and, as he put it, 'unfinished business.' “From a skill standpoint, elite relationally, leadership, football knowledge, humility with confidence, respect as an MVP player, smart, high emotional IQ, good person that cares about everyone in the building.” That is a unique set of circumstances. Does Manning fit all of those? Do other great quarterbacks from struggling franchises? It's something to chew on these next few months as movement continues across the league. On the topic of hiring: Will this be the year Vance Joseph gets another shot at being a head coach? I ask because the Broncos' defensive coordinator (also the Broncos' former head coach) faces Arizona tomorrow. He was the DC there for four years, and they interviewed him for their vacant head-coaching job last year. The Broncos have ranked third in points allowed each of the past two seasons. After Week 1 (when the Broncos forgot how to tackle against Kenneth Walker III), Denver ranks sixth in points allowed per game in 2026. With the Broncos offense playing at a low never before reached by Sean Payton, Joseph's defense is keeping them among the AFC contenders. Joseph interviewed last year for head jobs with the Cardinals, Titans, Giants, Ravens and Raiders. Broncos sources believe he has more than proven himself worthy of a second shot. Perhaps the spotlight on Denver's offense will make its way over to Joseph's defense before the hiring cycle kicks up. New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch attended this week's league meetings, and it's my understanding he will continue to operate just as he always has despite his turning up in the Epstein Files . Convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein connected Tisch with multiple women, according to released emails, and Tisch received scouting reports on women from Epstein. The two men discussed whether women were “pro or civilian” or a “working girl.” As far as I can tell after having spoken with multiple sources on this, there has been no NFL investigation or subsequent punishment. “Everything we've looked at, we understand and I think we're comfortable with him participating as the Giants suggest,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said this week. “I think always we'll look to see if there's any new information and we'll look at it and evaluate that.” In his public comments on Tisch, Goodell has been careful to never say Tisch is or has been under investigation. At his annual Super Bowl news conference, Goodell said the league would “look at how that falls” under the personal conduct policy. But he admonished a reporter who suggested there would be disciplinary action. “You may be getting ahead of yourself,” the commissioner said then. In March, reports surfaced that Tisch, along with his brother Jonathan and sister Laurie, would transfer ownership stakes to their children's trusts. The memo detailing the transaction stated the trio would “no longer own any interest in the club.” And indeed, Goodell said at the end of March that the transaction had been completed. “As you know, the Tisch family also made some family changes,” Goodell said. “Steve, Jon and Laurie actually did some transactions as part of their estate planning and are no longer owners.” Many across the league — this reporter included — assumed that was a move in response to Tisch's appearance in the Epstein emails (neither Jonathan nor Laurie are mentioned in the document dump). In actuality, the ownership stakes transfer from March was the final step in a series of estate-planning actions that began in 2023. While he may not be an owner in the technical sense, Steve Tisch remains the Giants co-owner for all intents and purposes. His role has never changed. The league has never confirmed an investigation took place. There has been no discernible punishment. “We had a brief association where we exchanged emails about adult women, and in addition, we discussed movies, philanthropy and investments,” Tisch said in a January statement about his appearance in the Epstein Files. “I did not take him up on any of his invitations and never went to his island. As we all know now, he was a terrible person and someone I deeply regret associating with.” The NFL is playing in Paris on Sunday because the NFL was always going to. I don't want to make light of the civil unrest and the situation there, but once the Saints boarded the plane Sunday night bound for France, the game was going to be played. When Roger Goodell and his lieutenants said this week at league meetings that the game was on as scheduled, go ahead and start painting the field. When Paris Saint-Germain hosted Barcelona on Tuesday, that served as the bellwether for the NFL. Even PSG-Lyon getting pushed from Sunday to Monday as a precaution won't change that. Saints Owner Gayle Benson, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Steelers Owner Art Rooney II met with French President Emmanuel Macron today at the Élysée Palace in Paris to discuss Sunday's game and the long-term future of the NFL in France 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/KeHaULEmlW — New Orleans Saints (@Saints) October 23, 2026 The NFL has spent untold millions on its global expansion efforts over the years. There could be 10 international games next year , up from nine this year. A year or two from then, we could see teams playing in Japan or the United Arab Emirates. The league isn't turning back. International contests have only been interrupted twice. Once for an unplayable field in Mexico City, circumstances that have led the NFL to ensure that will never happen again. The other time was a global pandemic. There could be another Bastille storming, and you'd still hear Dave Pasch, Jason Kelce and Kurt Warner calling Sunday's game. On Thursday night I stopped by Top of the Hill in Chapel Hill to have an Old Well White wheat beer and listen to UNC head coach Bill Belichick on his weekly radio show. Last year, UNC GM Mike Lombardi did the show, but in the parlance of Chapel Hill … he's not here . (I was back at my alma mater with the honor of participating in the UNC Sports & Entertainment Summit as a speaker. Go Heels!) The school moved the show from Monday to Thursday to better accommodate Belichick, who was predictably bland talking about his football program but predictably entertaining talking about the school's Olympic sports. Midway through the show, host Jones Angell took a backseat and essentially let Belichick take the wheel for an interview with UNC women's soccer coach Damon Nahas. Nahas had the unenviable job of following legendary soccer coach Anson Dorrance; it is understood to be one of the toughest challenges in all coaching. As he started talking about his experience, Belichick dropped this one-liner. “I thought about following Coach Parcells at the Jets and decided not to do that .” The blue hairs seated around him didn't get the joke, but I laughed a little too loud at the bar. I'm happy for my friend and former colleague JJ Watt, who this week was named the lead analyst for the NFL on CBS for years to come. We worked together for three seasons at CBS Sports, including two on The NFL Today and That Other Pregame Show. At the time, he was still doing studio stuff part-time as he figured out what he wanted out of his post-playing career. Everyone in the building looked forward to the weekends when Watt would be in. He worked hard, brought great energy and always had insightful commentary. In short: He was great vibes. I don't want to compliment the lesser JJ too much, but know that he works very hard at his craft, cares about his colleagues and always has your back. Congrats, JJ No. 2.