Cleveland Browns: The Deshaun Watson Dilemma

The Cleveland Browns have stumbled out of the gate in the 2024 NFL season, posting a disheartening 1-4 record. For a franchise that hoped to turn the tide with a monumental investment in quarterback Deshaun Watson, this is not just disappointing—it points toward a troubling future.

The Watson Investment

In 2022, the Browns were convinced they struck gold when they acquired Watson, a quarterback with undeniable talent despite significant off-field controversies, including nearly 30 allegations of sexual misconduct related to massage therapy. The team believed Watson, after a year-long hiatus from the game, would elevate them to new heights. However, reality has painted a different picture. Watson managed to win only three of the six games he played after serving an 11-game suspension, and the team ended with a 7-10 record, missing the playoffs yet again.

Fast forward to 2023: the Browns saw a bit of brightness, finishing the regular season with 11 wins and 6 losses, making their way back to the playoffs for the first time since 2002. Watson participated in a mere six games, winning five while sitting out much of the season due to a shoulder injury. With Watson sidelined, remarkable contributions from Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski, Comeback Player of the Year Joe Flacco, and defensive stalwart Myles Garrett helped the team achieve moderate success.

The Browns celebrate a hard-fought win in their playoff run.

The Start of 2024: A Troubling Trend

Now, after five games this season, Watson’s performance has turned the team’s initial optimism into despair. With a stunningly low -0.302 EPA (Expected Points Added) per pass play, he’s statistically one of the worst quarterbacks in the league. According to data compiled by Mike Sando from The Athletic, he ranks 618th out of 621 quarterbacks since 2000 at this point in the season. It begs the question—how did a supposed franchise savior fall to such depths?

Comparisons with Recent Quarterback Performances

To put this in perspective, previous starters for the Browns, such as Jacoby Brissett and Baker Mayfield, posted considerably better EPA figures in their first five games than Watson currently does. Brissett had an EPA of 0.072 in 2022, while Mayfield boasted 0.102 in 2021 and 0.099 in 2020. This metrics juxtaposition highlights a stark decline under Watson that Browns fans are painfully aware of.

Sticking with Watson

Despite an alarming start, head coach Kevin Stefanski has publicly supported Watson, stating, “We are not switching quarterbacks.” With such a lucrative contract—five years, $230 million fully guaranteed—it’s nearly impossible to bench Watson without significant ramifications. It’s a precarious situation; if Watson were to sit out, the potential uproar from fans and analysts alike would be nothing short of chaos. One must wonder if the team’s organizational structure can withstand such pressure.

Watson faces scrutiny for his underwhelming performances.

The Contract Conundrum

This brings us to another critical aspect of the Watson dilemma: his contract. Not only is it heavily backloaded, but the Browns are committed to paying him an astonishing $46 million guaranteed in the upcoming years. His impending cap hits surpass $72 million, creating a landmine for the franchise’s salary cap strategy moving forward. The financial repercussions of a release would render some infamy, with $172 million in dead money in 2025 alone.

Browns fans, while familiar with dire quarterback situations over the years, have likely found themselves longing for the days of backup quarterbacks like Brian Hoyer, who, back in 2014, delivered one of the best starts by a Browns quarterback since 2000, showcasing an EPA of 0.265. Such nostalgia underlines just how far from grace Watson has fallen.

A Faint Glimmer of Hope

The situation looked to become even worse when a new lawsuit against Watson emerged, potentially surrounding allegations that did not fall under his previous agreements with the NFL. Fortunately for Watson and the organization, he managed to reach a settlement in this case. With this out of the way, the likelihood of any further sanctions from the league appears minimal, leaving his existing contract intact.

Nonetheless, with the looming questions about Watson’s future and performance, the Browns may need to resign themselves to a season of unfulfilled expectations. If you look at the history of the NFL, top-tier quarterbacks don’t often find success under such a cloud of uncertainty and poor performance.

In conclusion, the Browns have found themselves at a crossroads. The future, which once seemed bright under Watson’s watch, is now muddy with doubt. Their investment in Watson may haunt the franchise for years to come unless significant changes are made—both on the field and behind closed doors at the Browns’ headquarters.

The hopes of a franchise rest upon a quarterback’s shoulders.

As the season progresses, one can only hope for a turnaround, both for Watson and the entire Browns organization. The question remains—can they salvage their season, or will this be another chapter in a long history of heartbreak in Cleveland?