The Cleveland Browns have received multiple rounds of fire for their deal to bring former Houston Texans Pro Bowl quarterback to town via trade back in 2022.
Watson was disgruntled with the Texans organization and publicly declared he wanted out.
The Browns won the trading bid and sent multiple first-round draft picks and other draft stock to Houston for the former Clemson Tiger - and it's not gone according to plan for Cleveland.
After sitting out all of 2021, Watson has played only 19 out of a possible 51 games, and hasn't played well when on the field.
That has caused many fans to call for his benching - regardless of who the backup is - but the Browns remain committed to Watson, even after his second season-ending injury since arriving in Cleveland.
"The plan, going forward, isn’t the same as it has been. Until now, the Browns have built a quarterback room to support Watson," NFL insider Albert Breer wrote. "This year, they’ll look, through the draft and/or the veteran market, to add competition to the room. So while the likelihood—because of the injury and the contract—is Watson will be back, the Browns are going to look to do more than just stop-gap the backup spot."
But another media outlet has a different take on Watson in Cleveland.
“Deshaun Watson should never play another snap for Cleveland," Bleacher Report wrote. "The Browns are stuck with the money and the crippling cap hits. That cost is sunk deeper than the Andrea Doria. It was the single worst personnel move in NFL history."
Watson is still owed $92 million of guaranteed money, but that shouldn't matter. But clearly, it does. If any quarterback with a lesser contract was performing like Watson is, he'd be cut or benched without question.
Will the Browns use Watson's most recent injury as a sign to move on next season and beyond? I'm not sure if they know yet.
