For the most part, no professional sports team should make decisions about who is on team based on the fans. There is an old saying that if you cater to the ticket holders, you will soon be sitting with them.
Over the past six months, there seem to be a lot of stories out of Berea about Deshaun Watson, who since he arrived in Cleveland via one of the worst trades in NFL history, has been more unavailable than able to play.
Near the end of last season, we heard about how he was able to practice, and at least one scribe asked if he would be activated before the end of the regular season. He was not.
Now, since Todd Monken has been hired as the new coach, it was reported that he is “intrigued” with the idea of Watson being the starter when the 2026 season begins this fall.
If you are a Browns’ fan and we are, you want the Browns to win, to be the franchise they were when we grew up in the late 1960’s when they were perennially in the mix for the NFL Championship.
That said, it can also be true that most fans are done with Watson. They don’t care if he never plays another down with the team and many think the Browns should do what Denver did with Russell Wilson, just release him, take the massive cap hit and be done with it.
And although part of the reason is the legal issues Watson had after leaving Houston, but it is also what Watson represents–failure. He is a reminder that the Browns gave up three first round picks and put themselves in salary cap hell with the trade.
As for whether or not Watson can still be the guy who threw for a league leading 4823 yards in his last year with the Texans, let us remind everyone that is happening in 2020. That’s six years ago!
Among the other top ten passers in yardage in that season were Tom Brady, Matt Ryan, and Philip Rivers. They are all retired.
In the 85 regular season games played by the Texans (’21 when Watson was still there) and Browns, the quarterback has been available for 19 due to a variety of injuries, a suspension, and that he sat out his last season with Houston.
His passer rating from ’20 and before was 104.5, among the best in the NFL. Since, the rating drops to 80.7.
He had 19 games of 300 yards or more passing with the Texans. None with the Browns. He had 15 contests where he threw for three or more touchdowns before the trade. None since. His completion percentage prior to 2021 was 67.2%. Touchdown to interception ratio in Houston was 104:36, with the Browns 19:12.
His average yards per attempt has dropped from 8.3 to 6.0.
And perhaps the most telling numbers? He was 25 years old in 2020 and when the ’26 season begins, he will be 31.
We understand guys are still playing effective quarterback in the NFL into their late 30’s. Matthew Stafford was the league MVP this past year at 37. Aaron Rodgers took Pittsburgh to the playoffs at 42. But neither of them had a five-year span where they were ineffective and then came back to be very good again.
Add into the mix that 2026 is Watson’s last year on his contract so if he plays and recaptures his pre-Cleveland form, he will not likely be resigning with the Browns.
We aren’t a salary cap guru, but the best thing to do for the franchise and the fan base is to forget Watson is still on the roster and work out something with him.
The Browns need to move forward and not have a reminder of a terrible mistake hanging around.
Cleveland Sports Perspective 