Deshaun Watson’s NFL Career and Contract Woes: A Growing Concern for the Cleveland Browns

Deshaun Watson, the quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, is facing significant scrutiny and criticism as his performance continues to disappoint. Since joining the Browns in 2022, Watson has been outperformed by his backups, including Joe Flacco and Jacoby Brissett, as well as his predecessor, Baker Mayfield. Despite the Browns’ efforts to support him, Watson’s stats have been underwhelming, with a 5-3 TD-INT ratio, 1,020 passing yards, a 61.3% completion rate, and a QB rating of 76.6.

Watson’s contract, which is fully guaranteed for $230 million over five years, has become a major issue for the Browns. The contract includes a $44.965 million signing bonus and significant cap hits in the coming years, with $72.935 million in both 2025 and 2026. If the Browns were to cut Watson, they would face substantial dead cap hits, with estimates suggesting around $118.935 million in 2025 and $53.835 million in 2026.

The situation has become so dire that NFL executives believe Watson’s career in the league may be coming to an end. One executive stated that “the league would like to see him go away” and that no team would sign him if he became a free agent. The toxicity surrounding Watson, including multiple accusations of sexual assault, has further complicated his situation.

Recent pregame introductions at Huntington Bank Field saw Watson being mercilessly booed by Browns fans, a clear indication of their frustration with his performance and the team’s overall struggles. The Browns are the only team this season that has yet to score at least 20 points in a game, and Watson has not thrown for at least 200 yards in any single game.

The Browns are exploring options to mitigate the financial impact of Watson’s contract, including potentially trading him to another team that would take on a portion of his cap hits in exchange for draft picks. However, this would likely cost the Browns at least one first-round pick and possibly more.