Deshaun Watson’s Confidence Needs To Produce
Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Nope, never mind the four-year gap between 2024 and the season where Deshaun Watson last threw for 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns. Forget that Watson has played just 12 games in the past two years for the Browns, and has just 2,227 yards and 14 touchdowns to his name. Pay no attention to that. Instead, focus on the fact that Watson still is one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks, per Watson.
Watson spoke to the press on Wednesday and didn’t mince words about his status as an elite QB. “Of course [I am], no doubt.”
OK, then. He’ll have a great measuring stick on the opposite sideline on Sunday, as another top-tier passer is coming to town in Week 1 with Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys. They were the highest-scoring team in the NFL last year (29.2 points per game), fifth in yards per game (371.6), and second in passing yards per game (258.6).
Not surprisingly, Prescott was at the center of this explosive offense. He led the NFL in touchdown passes (36) and only Tua Tagovailoa and Jared Goff threw for more yards. Even though Cleveland is bringing back their elite defense, the Cowboys have the capability to pile on points and force Watson to keep up. Can he?
“I’m up for any challenge,” Watson declared. “I’m not afraid of anything.”
He may not be, but Cleveland fans are. After handing Watson a fully-guaranteed $230 million contract — a deal that’s already 40% over — Watson has rewarded the Browns with exactly one more touchdown than they got from five games of Joe Flacco last season. That an ancient, never-elite quarterback can come in off the street and without familiarity with the playbook and nearly out-produce two years of Watson in a five-game span is damning. The Dawg Pound is grappling with the real fear that their favorite team spent $270 million and a boatload of draft picks on a lemon.
Obviously, it wasn’t always this way for Watson. Between 2018 and 2020, the then-Houston Texan played all but one game (this was before the 17-game season) and averaged 4,280 yards and 28 touchdowns per year. The Texans had 10-plus wins in two of those three seasons. That’s the guy Cleveland was supposed to be paying for.
We know what they’ve gotten instead. Last year, we saw some flashes of the old Watson, like his 27-for-33, 289-yard, two-TD performance in Week 3 against the Tennessee Titans. But too often, we’re seeing a mediocre, frequently-sacked, quarterback that looks washed.
That’s not just a fan overreaction. The Ringer’s Steven Ruiz released his Quarterback Rankings, where he put Watson 24th. Forget hanging out with the likes of Dak (who ranked sixth), Watson finds himself looking up at the likes of Derek Carr (19th), Baker Mayfield (22nd), and Daniel Jones (23rd). Ruiz’ 78.2 grade for Watson matches that of Jacoby Brissett, which feels like rock-bottom for the three-time Pro Bowler.
“His game in Houston was always a high-wire act,” explains Ruiz. “Now that he’s lost the pocket presence and seemingly most of the arm talent that made him successful there, he’s no longer able to pull it off.”
Ouch. But wait, there’s more.
Ruiz again: “Watson doesn’t have quite the same zip on his throws… He’s more easily fooled by defenses. He’s still fairly athletic, but he’s not making enough plays in those situations to make up for the high number of sacks they produce. He doesn’t have the skill set to play efficient football.”
In fairness to Watson, he would point out that he’s spent the offseason working on his flaws, especially coming off shoulder surgery. “I had to start over,” Watson said of his recovery. “Throwing motion, mechanics, taking care of my body, eating right… just focusing on ‘OK, what do I need to do to get back to that elite level and feeling good each and every week?'”
He’ll have more than his shoulder to rehab. Four years removed from his previous on-the-field greatness, he has to rehabilitate his reputation as an elite passer.
As confident as Watson is, he’s running out of time to have it translate in a meaningful way for the Browns. Trading for Watson was the start of their going all-in, and it opened up a championship window last season. Unfortunately, Watson being out blew up those hopes.
Even worse, the Faustian bargain Cleveland made to get Watson may mean their Super Bowl window ends this year. You can only go all-in so much until the bottom falls out, and the bill for all those lost draft picks will arrive soon. That’s why the Browns doubled down this offseason, bringing back their veterans, spending draft capital to trade for Jerry Jeudy, and getting Mike Vrabel in the building. They know this might be their last chance, and so do fans.
If Cleveland has nothing to show for these Watson years, the trade is going to go down as the biggest disaster of the modern NFL. In order to avoid that, Watson has to do more than just project confidence. He must finally back up his big words.
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