Deshaun Watson Is ‘Solid’ But an Analyst Says Cleveland Is Already Done With Him

Cleveland might be off to a smooth 4-2 start this season, but don’t expect Deshaun Watson to be their long-term guy. That’s the word from Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton, who is not buying the idea of the Browns re-signing their franchise quarterback.

The Current Vibe and a Shaky Future

Watson has definitely been the center of attention in Cleveland’s hot start, helping them grab those four wins. Moton points out that while Watson hasn’t played “extremely well,” he has played “well enough to win games.” But “well enough” might not be good enough for the long haul in Cleveland, especially when it comes to a new contract. Moton isn’t convinced the Browns are looking to extend him despite the early season success.

A 2027 Plan Is Already Brewing

So, why the cold shoulder for Watson’s long-term future? Moton lays out a pretty clear picture. The Browns are sitting on two 2027 first-round picks. They have their own, plus another from the 2-4 Los Angeles Rams. Moton suggests Cleveland could easily prefer to draft a quarterback on a rookie deal with those picks. It’s a smart move financially, and it gets them out of Watson’s current deal. He’s solid, sure, but Moton emphasizes Watson is “still less than the three-time Pro Bowl player from his Houston Texans years.” For Watson to even be considered for a new deal, he’d need to “significantly increase his passing production and lead the Browns to a playoff win.” Moton calls that “an improbable task.”

The message is pretty clear, right? Even with the Browns seemingly enjoying having Watson on the team, Moton thinks “getting out of that contract and not going back is the go-to approach.” Drafting a new signal-caller in 2027 with those two picks just “makes the most sense.” This isn’t about this week’s game, it’s about the long game. With those two 2027 first-rounders looming, it feels like Cleveland’s big QB questions are only just beginning, no matter how many games Watson wins right now.

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Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.