Trade Pitch Sees Browns Deal Deshaun Watson, Save $75 Million
The Cleveland Browns aren’t willing to call their deal for Deshaun Watson a disaster, but it’s creeping ever closer to that definition.
General manager Andrew Berry guaranteed Watson $230 million over five years to lure him to Cleveland after spending his final year with the Houston Texans entirely on the sidelines. The Browns also handed over three first-round picks, a third-round selection and two fourth-rounders to Houston to get the trade done.
So what has Cleveland acquired for by far the most expensive decision in franchise history?
The unfortunate answer to that question is 12 regular-season starts (8-4) across two seasons, a sub-60% completion percentage (59.8%), a subpar 6.5 yards per pass attempt on 2,217 total passing yards and 14 TDs against 9 INTs, per Pro Football Reference.
Watson missed 11 games in 2022 due to an NFL suspension and 11 games in 2023 due to shoulder surgery. His contract appears an un-tradable asset slung around the franchise’s proverbial neck, though Bill Barnwell of ESPN contended on Monday, January 15 that there might be a way out for Cleveland after all.
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While there’s no way the Browns would be able to expect a significant return for Watson after two disappointing seasons, would they find another team willing to accept the responsibility of his deal for the cost of a conditional seventh-round pick?” Barnwell wrote. “I would say no, but I’ve learned never to underestimate how desperate teams can talk themselves into quarterbacks.”
Watson was a three-time Pro Bowler between 2018-20 and will turn just 29 years old at the beginning of next season. He threw for more than 4,000 yards twice in Houston, leading the NFL with 4,823 passing yards in 2020.
