All Eyes Are Once Again On Deshaun Watson And His $230 Million Deal
Credit: Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK
Deshaun Watson is still under contract through 2026 for the Cleveland Browns, but don’t let that fool you. This might just be the last year of the Deshaun Watson experiment. When the Browns traded for him, Watson signed a five-year extension that will pay him $230 million by the time it’s completed. So far, he hasn’t lived up to the value. Because of suspension and injuries, Watson has only played 12 games for Cleveland.
The Browns had been the laughingstock of the NFL for years, but the expectations are high for this team, and just making the playoffs isn’t going to be enough for a team that is loaded with talent all over the field. Last season, the Browns finished with 11 wins, but most of that success was due to the defense. Watson played just six games, throwing for 1,115 yards, seven touchdowns, and four interceptions.
The offense was talented last season, but Watson’s injury and play put a hard ceiling on the team, which is not what anyone wants from their $200-million player. This offseason, the offense has gotten even better, and there are no excuses why they can’t be one of the top teams in the AFC.
The offense last season was filled with playmakers, including Nick Chubb, Amari Cooper, and David Njoku. All three of those X-factors are back, and the team also traded for Jerry Jeudy from the Denver Broncos. Jeudy was held back at times in Denver with bad quarterback play, but now being matched up with Watson should help him have a career season.
The Browns also brought in former Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, who helped lead the Bills offense to a boatload of success. Dorsey has always been known for getting the best out of his players, and he is working this offseason to help tinker with the offense to get the most out of Watson.
Watson knows that with Jeudy coming on board and Dorsey in charge of the offense, there is even more pressure, but that is something he seems to be embracing based on his recent comments.
“I don’t look at it in a negative way, I don’t look at it in a bad way,” Watson said via FoxNews. “You know, each and every fan, each and every media person, they want to see me at a level that I’m capable of doing. So, that’s the standard.”
Watson knows the pressure means there’s still belief in his abilities. “If I was at the bottom, no one would talk about me. So obviously,” he said. “If anyone is talking about me, continuing to talk about me, then I must be pretty damn good.”
It’s good that Watson still has the confidence that he’s “pretty damn good,” but he needs to prove that on the field. Watson is expected to be fully healthy from his shoulder injury from Week 1. This is the most talented Browns team in years, and with that fact combined with Watson’s salary, the only acceptable thing is winning. And winning a lot, at that.
It’s happened before. Back in 2018 with the Houston Texans, Watson led them to an 11-5 record, and the 2024 Browns should be even more talented. Sure, Watson had Deandre Hopkins going for over 1,500 yards receiving that year, but overall, this Browns receivers room is a whole lot more talented. It’s a bit shocking to admit, but the real question mark on the Browns offense is their $230 million investment, and that is unacceptable. If the Browns underachieve, all eyes will be on his shortcomings.
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