Deshaun Watson is on pace to break records this season. Unfortunately, they aren’t the kind of records the Cleveland Browns envisioned when they signed him to a groundbreaking $230 million contract in 2022.
His woes while playing under a fully guaranteed five-year deal could change the way organizations view financial commitments.
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“Based on how Deshaun Watson has played so far, I think teams will think twice before they think about a long-term fully guaranteed deal at quarterback or candidly any other position,” former New York Jets general manager and ex-Miami Dolphins executive vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum said in an interview.
Watson, who ranks 28th in passer rating at 74.8, statistically has been one of the worst quarterbacks in the league this season. The embattled former Houston Texans player is on track to be sacked more times in one season than any signal-caller (he is currently at 26 through five games and inching closer to David Carr’s season record of 76 in 2002). The takedowns come as the Browns offense ranks last in yards per game, yards per play and third-down efficiency.
The responsibility for the Browns 1-4 season thus far should not be placed entirely on the three-time Pro Bowler, but the 29-year-old is ripe for criticism, considering his gargantuan contract and the sexual misconduct and sexual assault allegations from more than two dozen women that led to an 11-game suspension in 2022.
Watson, who is 9-8 as a starter in Cleveland, has been lambasted this year, with fans on social media derisively noting he has settled more lawsuits (24) than thrown touchdown passes (19) since he joined the Browns via trade from the Texans. He settled another lawsuit this week—potentially preventing Cleveland from voiding his contract via behavioral clauses.
As it stands, Watson is still due $92 million in guarantees beyond this season.
With his latest lawsuit settled confidentially, the Browns seem to be moving forward with the former Clemson star who they hope can regroup and get back to Pro Bowl form. Head coach Kevin Stefanski has already said Watson will remain the starter entering this week’s game against Philadelphia despite a bevy of people, including Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, calling for him to benched.
Backup quarterback Jameis Winston has experience as an NFL starter, but the investment in Watson could be weighing into a football decision.
Many speculated that Watson’s historic contract would open the door for more star quarterbacks to secure fully guaranteed deals. But that has yet to happen, and his deal continues to serve more as an anomaly that came out of a unique trade situation. While several quarterbacks have inked new deals and will likely see most of their total value barring injury or retirement, Watson’s full guarantee remains the exception.
The Browns have done what they can to minimize the impact the hefty contract has on the rest of the roster. Watson’s deal has been restructured three times, most recently in August when the team converted $44 million of his base salary to a signing bonus to open $35 million in cap space.
Watson has yet to make a playoff appearance since he joined the team.
Other owners around the league have taken notice, which isn’t good for future stars looking to join the exclusive club that only includes Watson and Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins, who was the first player to sign a multi-year, fully guaranteed deal during his time in Minnesota back in 2018 (though his contract was just three years with a total value of $84 million).
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