Deshaun Watson’s 80.7 passer rating since joining Cleveland isn’t just bad, it’s the sixth-worst mark in the entire league among quarterbacks who have started at least 17 games since 2022. Yeah, you read that right. The guy is their newly minted opening-day starter, but his play has been anything but starting-caliber. It’s a stark contrast to that mammoth five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed deal he signed back in 2022.
The “Sunk Cost” QB and a Very Angry Fanbase
Let’s be real, this whole situation is a nightmare for Cleveland. Watson, who is soon to be 31, ranked 32nd among qualified quarterbacks in passer rating before tearing his Achilles in Week 7 of the 2024 season. Statistically, he’s been one of the worst quarterbacks in the league since he landed at Huntington Bank Field. It’s no wonder the Browns’ front office likely views him as a “sunk cost.”
And the fans? Oh man, they are not having it. A large portion of the Browns’ fanbase absolutely reviles him. You want to talk about raw emotion? Some fans *cheered* when he went down with that Achilles injury in 2024. More recently, he was hounded with jeers during a preseason game against the Bills this past Saturday. Talk about a tough crowd, but honestly, can you blame them given the performance and the price tag?
A $230 Million Headache That Just Won’t Go Away
When Watson arrived via sign-and-trade in 2022, that $230 million deal was a record-breaker for guaranteed money at signing, more than $80 million over the previous record. Today, only Bills QB Josh Allen has more total guaranteed money. The Browns knew they were signing a player facing serious legal issues, with over 20 civil lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault and misconduct. So, they structured the contract to limit the financial hit if he got suspended, giving him just $1 million in base salary during the 2022 season. He was, of course, banned for the first 11 games of 2022 for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
They’ve restructured this contract *twice* now. Just this past March, they freed up $36 million in cap space, making them cap compliant for the 2026 season. His cap hit was initially slated for an eye-watering $80.7 million this year, the largest in the NFL. Spotrac reports it’s sitting at a little over $40 million now. Here’s the kicker: his contract *expires* at the end of this season, but the Browns will still be on the hook for around $85 million over the next four years, and his deal will count against their salary cap until 2031. Yikes.
The Browns are kicking off their regular season with a pair of away matchups against playoff-caliber sides in the Jaguars and Buccaneers. For Cleveland, the pressure is already sky-high to somehow navigate this expensive mess and find a way to win.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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