The Cleveland Browns are sitting pretty at 4-2 through six games, leading the AFC North, which is wild considering this is the first time they’ve led the division outright since 2014. They even have wins over the Steelers and Ravens, which is no small feat. But despite this surprising start, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam isn’t ready to talk about Deshaun Watson’s future contract. Haslam called any discussion about it “way premature,” saying they are “just focused on beating the Titans.”
Watson’s Performance Is a Head-Scratcher
Here’s the thing, while the Browns are winning, Watson’s play has been… well, it leaves something to be desired. The guy has been sacked an NFL-high 24 times already this season. He’s also tied for the league lead with six fumbles. When you look at the deeper numbers, it’s not looking great: he ranks 25th out of 33 quarterbacks in QBR, 16th out of 21 in EPA per play, and 17th out of 21 in success rate for quarterbacks with at least 200 plays. Oh, and they have scored more than 21 points only once all season. This is for a guy on a massive five-year, $230 million contract. Yeah, the one he signed back in March 2022 after that trade with Houston.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom. The Browns have been clutch in close and late-game situations, and Watson is actually tied for the league lead with four game-winning drives. So he’s finding ways to get it done when it counts, despite the rough individual stats. It’s a real mixed bag.
The Money, The Draft, and The Open Door
This season is the final year of Watson’s current deal. But don’t think he’s just walking away clean: he’s still going to count against their cap through 2030 because of void years. And this is where it gets crazy: if the Browns cut him, he’s set to count a whopping $86.2 million in dead money on their 2027 cap. They can spread that pain over two seasons if they designate him as a post-June 1 cut before March 13, 2027, but that’s still a huge chunk of change. An NFL source told The Athletic that the “door is wide open” for Watson to stay, saying, “It’s the only line on a starting quarterback job he’ll have. And even if you are in position to take one high, or get in position to do so, you’re in no rush to play the rookie.” Financially, keeping him around to try and lower that dead money number might actually make sense for their cap, even if they draft another quarterback early.
The Browns also have a lot of young talent on the roster, like Denzel Boston, KC Concepcion, Harold Fannin Jr., Carson Schwesinger, and Mason Graham. Plus, they’re loaded with two first-round picks in the 2027 draft, thanks to the Myles Garrett trade with the Rams. That Rams’ pick is currently projected at No. 11 overall, which could be massive for their future.
For now, the Browns are laser-focused on Week 7 and trying to stay atop the AFC North. Every team in that division has a winning record, so this is going to be a brutal fight to the finish. They’ve got the Titans up next, and you know they’ll be bringing the heat.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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