Cleveland Browns Quarterback Deshaun Watson’s future at the franchise looks to remain uncertain. Despite the Browns paying him $92 million for the next two seasons, his poor performance and ongoing recovery from a ruptured Achilles Tendon leaves his prospects undecided. Browns General Manager, Andrew Berry, vaguely commented on Watson’s future, stating it’s possible that he may play for the club in 2025.
Watson’s performance has left a lot to be desired, contributing to his murky career outlook. Berry pointed out that while Watson has had some impressive moments on the field, his overarching performance has been dissatisfactory with numerous overthrows, poor decisions, and losses. The Browns had a poor start this season, going 1-5 and failing to score 20 points in any game before Watson was injured.
Despite Watson’s disappointing performance, Berry stated that the blame did not entirely lay with Watson. Instead, he suggested that the offenses needed better organization and synchronization. He added that various position groups shared responsibility for the poor performance this season. Meanwhile, Watson is due to collect $46 million in each of the next two seasons, impacting the team’s efforts to fill its talent gaps.
Watson’s acquisition by the Browns was controversial due to his fully guaranteed five-year $230 million contract, allegations of sexual misconduct, and mediocre performance on the field. The sign-on was widely criticized with some referring to the deal as the worst in the NFL’s history. Team owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam faced backlash, notably because Watson’s recruitment happened amidst allegations of sexual assault and harassment in his previous team, the Houston Texans.
In spite of the negative reception Watson’s acquisition elicited and the team’s failure to retain Joe Flacco, Berry maintained that it was a collaborative decision. He remarked that all team members were on board with the decision to recruit Watson. He also downplayed the negative fan reactions, stating that the organization will continue to work in the best interests of the team, regardless of public opinion.
News surrounding Watson’s likely return to the Browns in 2025 has received a mixed reception from fans, some of whom were dismayed over the team’s decision to retain him. In an unfortunate turn of events last month, several Browns’ fans jeered after Watson was injured. This act sparked outrage among his teammates. Whether these events will influence the team’s future decisions remains to be seen.
