‘Beyond Improbable’ — Former NFL GM Fires Back at Deshaun Watson’s Aim of Getting Another Contract From Browns
· Yahoo Sports
As training camp rolls on, Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson finds himself locked in a position battle with Shedeur Sanders for the starting spot. Watson, who has not played a meaningful game in a couple of years, wants to reclaim his spot. The veteran, beset by multiple injuries, finds himself battling Sanders, a second-year signal-caller who made the Pro Bowl in his rookie season.
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With a new head coach in Todd Monken, the Browns completely altered their offensive scheme. Aside from being the starter, Watson said he hopes to sign a new contract when his current one expires. A former NFL general manager checks in, offering his take regarding the feasibility of Watson’s wishes.
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Watson has not played in an NFL game since October 20, 2024, when he tore his Achilles tendon. The following January, he re-tore the same tendon, canceling last season. Now, he wants his job back.
During interviews, Watson mentioned not only that he wants to finish his current contract but also that he wants to receive a new one. Mike Tannenbaum, a former general manager for the New York Jets, did not mince words when he dismissed Watson’s hopes on ESPN’s “Get Up.”
“He’s played in 19 games since 2020,” Tannenbaum said about Watson. “They gave him $230 million of fully guaranteed money, arguably the worst transaction in the history of football. And he tore his Achilles tendon twice.”
Tannenbaum brings up the Achilles issue because of its adverse effect on a quarterback, citing how the tear drains athleticism and timing.
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“We’ve been around quarterbacks that when you tear your Achilles tendon once, you lose literally a quarter of a second in quickness. You lose your effectiveness. He did it twice,” declared Tannenbaum. Additionally, the Browns’ quarterback room became younger since Watson last competed on the field. Subsequently, how would he fit in?
“I can’t understand why they don’t look at Taylen Green, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders, and say, ‘We got three young guys. Let’s see what we have here. Obviously, we have multiple first-round picks in 2027.’ This, to me, is beyond improbable.”
Green is a rookie with substantial physical traits. Gabriel does have NFL experience, albeit a small sample size. As mentioned, Sanders provided the Browns with a spark. In his rookie season, Sanders threw for 1,400 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in eight games. According toPFN’s QB Impact Metric, he posted an impact score of 63.0, which was the second-worst in the league.
On top of that, would the Browns extend Watson, given how much they spent to acquire him in the first place?
Cleveland sent six draft selections, including three first-round picks. Plus, they signed Watson to a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract. Now, the average annual salary for a quarterback is higher.
The Browns traded defensive cornerstone Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams. With extra picks and a younger roster, they look like they are rebuilding. Would they want to keep Watson despite rebuilding?
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.