Did the Browns win the Deshaun Watson trade?
By: Ivan Mulinder
On Friday, March 18th news broke that Deshaun Watson had changed his mind and was heading to the Cleveland Browns to be their franchise Quarterback. The Texans had agreed to the trade and received the Browns first-round draft picks in 2022, 2023, and 2024, plus their third-round pick in 2023 and their fourth-round pick in 2024. The Browns received the Texans fifth-round pick in 2024.
Watson is getting paid! He has a fully guaranteed $230 million salary with a $45 million bonus. This is the highest contract in NFL history. Initially, Watson looked like he was heading for Atlanta or New Orleans, but he had a change of heart deciding that he wanted to play for a team that could win Titles (and pay him) now, and the Cleveland Browns certainly have a fully loaded roster. The Browns could have selected Watson in 2017, but drafted Myles Garrett instead, and traded their No. 12 pick to Houston. At his consistent best he’s a regular top 5 quarterback who might finally lead the Cleveland Browns back to the top of the NFL where they haven’t been since 1964.
On paper it makes sense, but the Browns Front Office has taken a very calculated gamble. Deshaun Watson is facing 22 civil lawsuits for sexual assault and sexual misconduct. He’s very likely to be suspended by the NFL and the Browns and Watson know it because in 2022 his salary is $1 million. Case Keenum will start the season for the Browns until Watson serves his ban, which is likely to be about 6 games. The backlash against Watson and the Browns is going to be huge and deservedly so. Some Browns fans have already said they’re quitting the team they’ve been supporting for years and the organization has sent a very poor message out to women and victims of sexual assault. It’s a gamble, but clearly one the Browns think they can deal with, and will presumably help and support Watson in his rehabilitation.
It’s a gamble, but if it pays off the Browns have acquired one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. They’ve achieved this without losing any players and will have created cap space as Baker has a salary of $18,850,000 compared to Watson’s $1 million. If this trade is successful, this is a stroke of genius and catapults the Browns to the highest ranks of the NFL’s likely contenders.
In 2020, his last active season, Watson threw 4,823 yards, 33 touchdowns with only 7 interceptions, and had a passer rating of 112.4. In 2019 he threw for 3,852 yards with 26 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and a passer rating of 98.0. In 2018 he threw for 4, 165 yards, 26 touchdowns, 9 interceptions with a passer rating of 103.1.
On Offense, the Browns currently have some potent weapons in Amari Cooper, Donovan Peoples-Jones, David Njoku, and Nick Chubb. They haven’t finished in Free Agency and will probably add another Wide Receiver, maybe Will Fuller, who has said that he wants to play with Watson again. The Browns have yet to release Baker Mayfield who will net more weapons and or picks in the trade. On Defense, the Browns have Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward, Gregg Newsome, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah amongst many others. This roster is stacked and is only getting stronger. Jadeveon Clowney may return, or they could acquire Za’Darius Smith, and the Browns still have 8 draft picks in 2022 with 5 in the top 118. Only two teams have more than this. With Baker to trade, they may well end up with more.
The loss of 3 first-round draft picks isn’t disastrous if the Watson deal pays off. The LA Rams won the Super Bowl last season. They haven’t had a first-round draft pick since 2016 when they selected Jared Goff. In 2017 their first pick was at 44. In 2018 their first pick was at 89. In 2019 their first pick was at 61, in 2020 at 52, and in 2021 at 57. This year their first pick is in round 5! They exchanged their first-round pick for Matthew Stafford, their second & third-round pick for Von Miller, their fourth-round pick for Brandin Collins, and their sixth-round pick for Sony Michel. The Rams model of building success isn’t through the Draft. The Browns have traded for Watson and are still stacked in the 2022 Draft.
The AFC has a tremendous array of quarterback talent. With or without Watson they’d have to beat Wilson, Burrow, Mahomes, Allen, Herbert, and last seasons No. 1 draft pick Trevor Lawrence to reach the Super Bowl. The Browns clearly think they have a much better chance of achieving this with Watson than Baker and even the most ardent of Baker supporters would have a very tough time denying this. They have set their course, they’re battening down the hatches and they believe a Super Bowl is coming to a franchise that has never even appeared in one. It’s very tough on Baker Mayfield who played through season-ending injuries to lead this team, and who prior to getting injured, was the No. 2 ranked quarterback in form according to PFF. Rumour has it he wants to go the Colts, but I don’t believe the Browns will trade him to an AFC team, in which case the Seahawks might be front runners. Wherever he goes most Browns fans will wish him success and thanks for his passion, commitment, and that first postseason win over the Pittsburgh Steelers since their return in 1999.
