By: Christian Pagan
On March 18th, 2022, the Cleveland Browns acquired QB Deshaun Watson in a trade with the Houston Texans. Cleveland would send three first-round picks to Houston for Watson and immediately gave him the largest contract in NFL history, a five year, $230M fully guaranteed deal.
The trade burned the bridges in a possible reconciliation with QB Baker Mayfield. With all the misery and misfortune that has happened with the Cleveland Browns in recent memory, Cleveland finally had locked up a star quarterback to a long term deal. Deshaun Watson would be the answer for the Browns. At least they thought.
While with the Houston Texans, Deshaun Watson had turned the eyes of many. In his first four seasons, Watson threw for over 14,500 yards, throwing 104 touchdowns and added 17 more on the ground. The 12th overall pick in the 2017 draft and three-time pro-bowler was emerging into a star quarterback in the NFL.
After a 4-12 record in 2020, Watson’s relationship with the Texans began to decline. Watson became frustrated with Houston’s front office, with a main focus being a contract dispute. However, during the offseason, more than two-dozen women would come forward and accuse Watson of sexual misconduct. With the allegations and contract issues, Watson wouldn’t play in 2021. It came clear that a fresh start would be best for the 26 year-old quarterback.
After going 8-9 in 2021, the Cleveland Browns were looking to move on from QB Baker Mayfield and once again in search of a new quarterback. The Browns would set their eyes on Watson and acquire him via trade. Many people questioned this move as the Browns gave $230M to a person who’s being accused by two-dozen people of sexual misconduct. This really wasn’t the best look for the Cleveland Browns.
Browns fans felt relieved after believing we had found our franchise QB we’ve been desperately waiting for. It would have to wait for Browns fans as Watson would be suspended for 11 games in the 2022 season and fined $5M. Watson would make his debut for the Browns against the Texans in week 13 of the 2022 season.
In six games played in the 2022 season, Watson would go 3-3, throwing seven touchdowns and five interceptions. Watson didn’t look like the Watson we all saw in Houston, but we all figured he was rusty after sitting out the entire 2021 season. With a few pieces and adjustments, the Browns were poised for a playoff run, with Watson at the helm.
In 2023, Watson would start the first three games, before suffering a shoulder injury that would basically sideline him for three games. In those three games, the Browns went 2-1, but Watson still looked shaky when playing, raising concerns from fans. Watson would return in the season, but would only play two more games before having season-ending surgery on his shoulder. This came after Watson orchestrated a 14-point, 4th quarter comeback against the Baltimore Ravens on the road. What was a promising look from Watson, would have to wait until the 2024 season.
When Watson was ruled out for the season, the Browns had another decision to make, and it caught a lot of people off guard, signing 38 year-old quarterback Joe Flacco straight off the couch. At this time, the Browns were 6-3, with a legitimate shot at the playoffs.
With Flacco under center, the Browns offense transformed into new heights. In five regular season starts, Flacco would amass a record of 4-1, throwing for 1600 yards and thirteen touchdowns to eight interceptions. For the second time in 21 years, the Browns were heading to the postseason. Unfortunately, injuries decimated the Browns and Flacco’s luck came to an end as the Browns lost to the Texans in the playoffs. Flacco became a fan-favorite in Cleveland and showed everyone the true potential of the Cleveland Browns’ offense.
They say third time the charm, as this would be Watson’s third season with Cleveland, entering 2024. With pressure mounting, all eyes were on Deshaun Watson, a quarterback who hasn’t lived up to the hype and certainly wasn’t playing like someone worth $46M/year. It was truly a Do-or-Die season for Watson. Once again, the stage was set for the Browns to make a push for a postseason run.
Seven games into the 2024 season, the Browns are 1-6. To say the offense has been atrocious or abysmal may be an understatement. At one point, the offense failed to convert a 3rd-down on 26 attempts. The offense has been performing at a historically-poor level. Fans have signaled their displeasure at the stadium and online, with the boo-birds raining from the seats at essentially every home game, mostly directed at Deshaun Watson. Fans online heavily criticized Watson and the offensive play at any given chance. Things would change on October 20th, 2024.
The Browns (1-5) would take on in-state rival, the Cincinnati Bengals (2-4). Again, the Browns offense was performing very poorly and fans let themselves be heard with boo-birds early on. In the second quarter, on a designed QB run, Deshaun Watson planted his right foot and fell to the ground.
Watson immediately clutched his right ankle, writhing in pain, signified a significant injury. With his hands on his helmet and the crowd in a state of shock, the broadcast replay would show Watson rupturing his achilles. For those that do not know, an achilles tear can be career altering, setting a recovery time of 9-12 months, which is daunting for any athlete.
As players gathered around Watson with looks of concern, the menacing injury cart rolled onto the field. In a serious moment, pockets of cheering and applause came from the seats at Huntington Bank Field surprisingly. Fans were cheering Watson’s injury. At that moment, it became clear that Cleveland had enough of Deshaun Watson.
Browns fans had reached their breaking point with Watson. They booed him during player introductions, bashed him online with criticism, and cheered the moment he went down after rupturing his achilles. Watson was in tears when leaving the field on a cart. In arguably one of the lowest moments in his career, the city of Cleveland officially turned their backs on Deshaun Watson.
As a fan who was at the game, seeing Watson in tears really stuck with me. Everyone in Cleveland wanted Watson gone, including me, but not like this. The moment he went down, the realization set in that Watson isn’t going to play again this season. It was almost like everyone had their wish come true, no more Watson, but in the most unfortunate outcome. It was shocking to hear fans cheer Watson’s injury. In sports, you never wish an injury upon anyone. These athletes work insanely hard to produce a product for fans to experience, and when it doesn’t go their way, it can be a cruel business.
I catch myself going back-and-forth with Watson’s injury. Some may deem this part controversial, but at first, I felt bad for Watson. Two days before the highly-anticipated season opener vs Dallas, Watson lost his father. The next day, his best friend was killed in a shooting. Still, Watson insisted on playing. He was playing for a team that saw their fans wanting no part of him. Fans and media attacked him online with criticism daily. In what already was a tough season for Watson, the torn achilles signified the final blow.
But then, you remember the horrible acts committed by Watson, with more than two-dozen women accusing him of sexual misconduct, and the settlements being reached. Deshaun Watson put this upon himself. It’s really hard to find sympathy for someone who has done the things he did.
In his first three years, Watson would only play 19 games for the Browns, obtaining a record of 9-10. In a Browns uniform, Watson threw for over 3,300 yards, scoring 20 total touchdowns, and throwing 12 picks. Watson’s highest season QB Rating in Cleveland was 42.9, in 2023. His lowest season QB Rating with the Texans was 61.8 in 2018, in which the Texans went 11-5 and saw Watson go to his first pro-bowl.
There’s a reason why Deshaun Watson has arguably the worst reputation in the NFL at this moment. There’s a reason the Cleveland Browns are the laughing stock of the NFL again. There’s a reason why the rest of the NFL raised their eyebrows when Cleveland sent three first round picks for Watson, then gave him $230M guaranteed. Many people view the Watson trade as one of the worst trades in NFL history, and his contract as the worst in NFL history. It’s been evidently clear, it’s time to move on from Deshaun Watson.
But it’s not as easy as it sounds. With the Browns fully guaranteeing Watson’s contract, it’s become extremely difficult to get out of the situation. Watson is signed through the 2026 season. If the Browns decided to cut Watson in the offseason, it would come with a price tag of $172,700,000 in dead cap alone. That would be detrimental to the team’s ability of constructing a quality-roster in competing in the NFL.
The other option available would be to trade Watson away. But, you can’t trade Watson due to two reasons. First, no team will pick up his contract, unless Watson decides to restructure, which he won’t do. Who would want to negotiate away a nine-figure number? Second, he’s been performing at such a poor level, no team would even consider acquiring Watson. If the Browns ultimately decide to cut Watson, there’s a real possibility that he has played his last NFL snap.
What was supposed to be something spectacular for Cleveland, severely backfired and turned into a disaster. It’s a shame to see such a great player that had so much potential, fall off like Watson has. It seems like he’s lost that spark mentally in Cleveland. Falling deep into the piles of criticism, Watson never found himself in brown and orange.
The Browns have to admit, the Watson gamble did indeed not hit, and that it was a huge mistake. With Watson under contract with the Browns, Cleveland won’t succeed. Watson’s contract has set back the franchise and hurt the team’s reputation. The financial implications have already taken its toll within the franchise.
Deshaun Watson ruined the chances of Cleveland to have a chance at a deep-postseason run. Cleveland built a very good roster in their rebuild, but was ultimately wasted, with nothing to show for it. Looking at players such as Myles Garrett, Nick Chubb, Wyatt Teller, Joel Bitonio, Denzel Ward, and more, had seasons wasted, especially with some players in their prime. It’s truly unfair to them. Acquiring Watson frailed relationships with many people, with notable ones being Baker Mayfield and Amari Cooper.
Even with the fans, many invested time and money in acquiring gear, tickets, tailgating, etc., and in return, experienced a poor product. Yet, Browns fans remain arguably one of the most-loyal fanbases in the NFL. Being extremely passionate, we want to see our team succeed and win. But if Watson is the quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, the team will not experience the success we’ve been desperately waiting for.
The fans and the city of Cleveland have had enough of Deshaun Watson, it’s time to move on.
(Image from thespun.com)