Everyone wants the Cleveland Browns to release Deshaun Watson. The issue is that the Browns refuse to move on from him. Watson, who was acquired in a blockbuster trade in 2022, is a divisive character who has yet to take off for Cleveland, but the Browns did not make this enormous investment to abandon him after being 5-1 in 2023 and then suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.
That won’t stop the predictions, though, as Mike Tannenbaum has already proposed trading Watson to the New York Giants in exchange for Daniel Jones and a second-round selection. This arrangement would be disastrous for both parties, making it comical at best.
Another challenging concept has surfaced. ESPN’s Seth Walder stated that if he were in charge, he would try to trade a Day 2 pick to the Bears for Justin Fields. The former Ohio State quarterback was showing signs of improvement.
“I understand that this is a wild one. But, if I were the Browns, I would view Deshaun Watson as mostly a sunk expenditure and try to upgrade at quarterback. With no first-round pick and so much money already on the table for Watson, this would be difficult to accomplish. But trading a second- or third-round selection for Fields (who is still on his rookie contract) is an option, and I’d want to see Fields in Kevin Stefanski’s offense. The alternative is merely hope Watson improves and, if not, squandering another year with a great roster.” — Walder, ESPN.
Chicago is anticipated to move on from Fields, whom they drafted in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. With the first pick in 2024, the Bears are expected to sign Caleb Williams from USC and trade Fields. There should be a market for him after tossing 2,562 yards, 16 touchdowns, and nine interceptions in 2023. Fields improved his passing game while also gaining 657 yards on the ground, up from 1,143 the previous season.
The Browns are not aiming to replace Deshaun Watson.
It’s reasonable to expect Fields to succeed under Kevin Stefanski. It’s also safe to suggest that the Browns may be a formidable club with him, having won games in 2023 with four different starters. What cannot be claimed with certainty is that Cleveland intends to move on from Watson.
Despite continual outside debates, Berea’s decision-makers remain committed to Watson as their starter. And, honestly, they should be.
Everyone knows that 2022 was a lost year due to an 11-game suspension. The Browns used that season to prepare Watson for his final six games. That implies they’ll most likely judge him based purely on what happened in 2023.
Overall, he threw for 1,115 yards and completed 61.4% of his passes, with a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 7 to 4. He did score another touchdown on the ground while rushing for 142 yards.
Watson admits he wants more from himself, but the truth is that Cleveland was winning with him before to his shoulder injury. That’s why they’re not going to sign Fields, Jones, or any other quarterback to replace Watson. With a fully guaranteed contract, the Browns will pay Watson regardless of whether they sign Fields. And, while he is now on a rookie contract, he will need to be extended before Watson’s contract expires, making it even less likely that they would consider this notion.
