The Cleveland Browns’ blockbuster trade for Deshaun Watson in 2022 was supposed to secure the franchise’s long-term future at quarterback. However, after Watson’s tumultuous first two seasons marred by legal issues, suspensions, and now a season-ending Achilles injury, that future appears murkier than ever.
GM Andrew Berry Noncommittal on Watson’s Future
During a press conference on Wednesday, Browns general manager Andrew Berry avoided directly answering questions about the team’s commitment to Watson as their starting quarterback in 2025 and beyond. “Really our focus with Deshaun, I would say for any player with a season-ending injury and a major injury, is first and foremost to make sure that he gets healthy from the Achilles injury,” Berry stated. “Everything else, we’ll deal with at a later moment.”
This noncommittal stance comes as a surprise considering the hefty price the Browns paid to acquire Watson. In March 2022, Cleveland sent three first-round draft picks to the Houston Texans and signed Watson to a fully guaranteed 5-year, $230 million contract, despite the quarterback facing over two dozen allegations of sexual misconduct at the time.
Watson’s Struggles On and Off the Field
Since making his Browns debut in December 2022 following an 11-game suspension, Watson has struggled mightily on the field. In 19 starts over two seasons, he has posted a dismal 33.8 Total QBR, ranking 32nd out of 33 qualified passers. The Browns offense failed to score more than 20 points in any of Watson’s six starts in 2024 before he suffered the torn Achilles in Week 7.
We haven’t played well as a team and we haven’t played well as a unit on offense. Oftentimes when you don’t play well on offense, obviously your starting quarterback and your playcaller will get the most criticism. But the reality of it is, offenses, it comes down to organization and synchronization.
Browns GM Andrew Berry on the team’s offensive woes
Off the field, Watson’s legal troubles have continued to cast a shadow over the organization. While he settled 23 of the 24 lawsuits accusing him of sexual misconduct, the graphic details and seriousness of the allegations have made it difficult for many fans to embrace him as the face of the franchise.
Massive Contract Complicates Matters
Compounding the uncertainty is Watson’s enormous contract, which includes cap hits of $72.9 million in both 2025 and 2026 – figures that would be second highest in the NFL. If the Browns were to move on from Watson after this season, they would face staggering dead cap hits of $172 million in 2025 and $99 million in 2026.
When asked directly if it was still possible for Watson to return as the Browns’ starting quarterback, Berry replied, “Yeah, I think that’s always possible.” However, his overall tone and reluctance to offer a firm commitment spoke volumes about the team’s wavering confidence in their once-prized acquisition.
Browns Left Searching for Answers
As Watson faces a lengthy recovery from his torn Achilles, the Browns now turn to journeyman quarterback Jameis Winston to lead the offense. The team also relinquished offensive play-calling duties from head coach Kevin Stefanski to coordinator Ken Dorsey in an attempt to spark their stagnant attack.
With a 2-7 record halfway through the 2024 season, the Browns find themselves in a precarious position. The Watson trade and contract extension, once hailed as a bold move to secure a franchise quarterback, now look increasingly like an albatross that could hamper the team’s ability to rebuild and compete in the coming years.
As the Browns navigate this uncertain terrain, one thing remains clear: the decision to stake their future on Deshaun Watson has left the franchise facing more questions than answers. Only time will tell if they can find a way out of the quagmire they now find themselves in.
