The Watson Situation Is Preventing Cleveland’s All In Opportunity
Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
All in opportunities are rare in the NFL. With the exception of teams with future Hall of Famers at the quarterback position, organizations don’t often find there way to the combination of a championship level roster and great timing allowing them to take a big swing at the trade deadline. This is what makes the current Deshaun Watson situation all the more frustrating.
The mystery and lack of transparency surrounding Cleveland’s $230 million quarterback and his injury has upset fans for weeks. No one truly understands how bad the injury is, when Watson is expected to return, or if there are other locker room issues behind the situation. Furthermore, even if he does return, there is nothing but questions surrounding whether or not he will ever return to his Houston form and live up to the trade and subsequent contract.
Frustratingly, this big mess of a mystery is preventing Cleveland from stepping hard towards title contention with Tuesday’s deadline.
If Watson, up to this point had shown glimpses of his former self or if there was any reason to believe he would hit that mark at some point this season swinging for the fences would be a no brainer. This defense is the sort of defense that Super Bowl appearances are built on. Even with the debacle against the Colts and the subsequent points allowed to Seattle, Cleveland still leads the league in nearly every meaningful defensive statistic. As the season goes on and players become even more comfortable with Jim Schwartz there is a reason to believe that Myles Garrett and his teammates might even achieve a higher level.
Importantly, that is exactly what you need to beat the best of the best in the AFC. Everyone points to Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase as the reason for the Bengals relative success against the Kansas City Chiefs, but it’s been there defensive line and pressure that has truly made the difference. In a conference filled with dynamite quarterbacks and elite offenses Cleveland is built to disrupt the powerhouses if only their offense could somewhat step up to the plate.
Imagine Watson being anything but a shell of his former self and adding Derrick Henry and/or Jerry Jeudy to this team.
But alas, despite Berry’s aggressive nature, it just doesn’t make sense to take the swing on a rental of a Hall of Famer like Henry if you don’t have clarity at your quarterback position. Especially given the lower amount of draft picks the team has in the first four rounds due to the Watson acquisition.
Jeudy might make more sense according to Mary Kay Cabot’s “Hey Mary Kay” column “because he’s only 24 and is under contract next season for his affordable fifth-year option amount of $12.987 million. An acquisition would come with an extension, but he’s probably worth it. Jeudy needs a change of scenery, and the Browns need another premier wideout.” But even then it’s the same issue. Are you willing to part with the sort of draft capital need to compete over the next few seasons in the hopes that Judy could put you over the top right now while you’re a team’s most important position is floundering?
Ultimately, the move that look like it could become Cleveland’s signature moment in franchise history is ultimately hindering the teams ability to take a shot that is seemingly right in front of them. Perhaps the injury is far more serious than anyone thinks and everything is perfectly cohesive behind the scenes with Kevin Stefanski and his quarterback? But without transparency the trade deadline is just the latest in a series of situations where fans are left to sit in wonder what is going on and why?
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