The solely certainty about Deshaun Watson’s future with the Browns is that they’ll owe him $92 million over the subsequent two years.
Everything else concerning the quarterback is up within the air.
During his annual weekend press convention on Wednesday, basic supervisor Andrew Berry was principally obscure about Watson, saying he hasn’t dominated out the controversial QB returning to play for Cleveland in 2025 regardless of one other vital damage, three disappointing seasons and a divided fan base.
Watson is recovering from a season-ending ruptured Achilles tendon suffered Oct. 20 in a loss to Cincinnati. That, coupled with the truth that Watson is among the many lowest-rated quarterbacks within the NFL this season, has led to hypothesis about how — or if — he’ll slot in with the Browns, who made a franchise-altering commerce to accumulate him in 2022.
Berry was requested straight if Watson will play for Cleveland once more.
“It’s all the time attainable,” Berry stated, leaving the door open to different choices.
With eight video games left the Browns (2-7) in one season anticipated to incorporate the playoffs, Berry stated this isn’t the time to look previous the remaining schedule or dwell on the previous, however moderately deal with bettering the group.
And this additionally applies to Watson.
“Really our objective with Deshaun, I might say for any participant with a season-ending damage or a critical damage, is restoration first and ensuring he heals from his Achilles damage,” Berry stated. “We’ll discuss every little thing else later.”
While Berry might say so publicly, it is cheap to imagine the Browns are planning their life with or with out Watson, who’s within the “very, very early” levels of his rehabilitation, the GM stated. There’s not a second to waste scouting potential QBs in subsequent 12 months’s draft class or bridging the hole till they discover a franchise QB.
It needed to be Watson. It did not work.
The group’s choice to commerce three first-round draft picks to the Houston Texans after which signal the 29-year-old Watson to a totally assured five-year, $230 million contract backfired.
A 3-time Pro Bowler, Watson is 9-10 in simply 19 video games with Cleveland. He was suspended 11 video games by the NFL for violating the private conduct coverage in his first season with the Browns, and the final two ended prematurely with accidents: a damaged shoulder in 2023, a ruptured tendon in 2024.
But even when he is been wholesome, Watson hasn’t been excellent. Sure, he had some spectacular moments, whether or not escaping a sack to finish a go or combating for a primary down. He accomplished all 14 passes within the second half of a comeback final 12 months in Baltimore earlier than breaking a bone in his throwing shoulder.
However, there have been simply as many unfavorable sequences: reversals, unhealthy selections and losses. The Browns had been 1-5 this season and hadn’t scored 20 factors in any sport earlier than Watson was harm on a operating play towards the Bengals.
Berry, nevertheless, stated it is unfair guilty every little thing on Watson.
“We did not play effectively as a group and we did not play effectively as a unit on offense,” he stated. “Often, when you do not play effectively on offense, clearly your beginning quarterback and your play-calling will get essentially the most criticism. But the truth is, on offense, it is about group and timing.
“There’s simply lots of shared possession between completely different place teams by way of why we have not gotten outcomes.”
Watson will make $46 million in every of the subsequent two seasons, and the Browns, who reworked his compensation this season to open up wage cap house, will take a $72 million hit in 2025 and 2026, impacting their capacity to repair a roster with expertise and holes.
The deal was universally criticized, with some calling it the worst in NFL historical past.
Team house owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam had been broadly criticized for the transfer due to cash and since Watson’s signing got here amid allegations of sexual misconduct whereas he performed for the Texans. He has been accused by two dozen girls of sexual assault and harassment throughout therapeutic massage remedy classes.
Berry reiterated that the change was collaborative.
“As we all the time stated, all of us had been on board,” Berry stated. “Everyone is on board and clearly with lots of dedication to that, it would all the time be that manner.”
Watson’s arrival in Cleveland was met with combined reactions from followers, a few of whom had been disgusted that the group would add a participant of questionable character. Then, after Watson was injured final 12 months, the Browns signed Joe Flacco as a free agent and the veteran QB led them to a playoff berth.
The group’s selection to not deliver again Flacco additional alienated Watson’s detractors. Things got here to a head final month when there have been some derisive cheers from Browns followers when Watson received harm, a response that angered a lot of his teammates.
Berry was requested if the unfavorable response will have an effect on future QB selections.
“We love our followers,” he stated. “We know they’re passionate they usually love the group. When we make selections at an organizational degree, it is all the time going to be inside what we expect is in the very best curiosity of the franchise. Some of it is going to be widespread, a few of it is going to be unpopular, however that is actually the best way which we’ll deal with the state of affairs.”
Associated Press reporting.
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