Deshaun Watson is in year three of his five year $230 million contract with the Cleveland Browns. He has played in 11 of 35 games. According to Sherlock Holmes, «One you have discounted the impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.» (Here is a good time to recommend the show Elementary with Lucy Liu as Watson). The impossible in this situation is that the Cleveland Browns have thrown away $230 million dollars, or is it the truth?
Last season the Cleveland Browns lost star running back Nick Chubb and Watson. Some say that the loss of Chubb was the bigger disadvantage. It just may be so. The Browns in a last ditch effort acquired the services of quarterback Joe Flacco. Flacco then preceded to take the team to the playoffs. Now Flacco may be back in Cleveland. Is that more pressure for Watson to perform?
Will Joe Flacco Force Watson’s Hand
Last season Watson played in six games with the Browns. He finished the six games with a 61.4% completion percentage. He threw for 1,115 yards with seven touchdowns and four interceptions. Flacco came in and played five games with the team. He finished with a 60.3% completion percentage throwing for 1,616 yards. Flacco also had 13 passing touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Flacco has stated he wants to go to a team where he will start. He went 4-1 with the Browns last season while outperforming the quarterbacks who went before him.
But for Watson’s contract, would Flacco be the de facto starter?
The Jerry Jeudy Factor
The Browns traded for Jeudy giving away only a fifth and sixth round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Watson will not be able to blame his weapons for inadequate performance. With Jeudy now the presumptive WR2 behind Amari Cooper, on paper the Browns offense appears ready to compete. However, keep in mind Jeudy was drafted with the 15th overall pick in the 2020 Draft. He has not had a season where he eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards. Last season he finished with 54 receptions, 758 yards and two touchdowns.
The question is, is Jeudy there to make Watson better or is Watson a good enough quarterback to elevate Jeudy’s game? Stay tuned.
New Offensive Coordinator
And then of course, there is the new offensive coordinator in Cleveland. Ken Dorsey was fired from the Buffalo Bills in mid season last year. In the 10 games before he was fired the Bills were second in points per game, second in third down conversion rate and third in red zone efficiency. Quarterback Josh Allen also had 11 interceptions in those 10 games, including two games with multiple interceptions. So who was the problem, Dorsey or Allen?
Will Dorsey allow a quarterback to once again torpedo his job? (As you might have noticed, I pick Allen as the problem. After Week 10 he had seven interception and only one game with multiple interceptions). Unlikely, and if Flacco is in Cleveland there is no reason he will have to sit back and watch his quarterback implode and be blamed.
The Cleveland Browns Have Forced Watson’s Hand
The Browns have given Watson every reason to succeed, this upcoming season. They may also put themselves in a safe space if he should fail and they can once again acquire Flacco’s services. Free agency is opening, the 2024 NFL Draft is rapidly approaching, it is time for the $230 million dollar man to quiet the storm and play the hand he has been dealt.
