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Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns looks on during mandatory minicamp.
The Houston Texans traded Deshaun Watson to the Cleveland Browns in 2022, and he has been trying to get his career back on track ever since. In the latest update, Watson got a reality check about his current situation.
Still a polarizing figure, Watson has also not played up to the level expected of a three-time Pro Bowler.
Watson is working to return from his latest injury, but the ex-Texans star may be stuck in neutral.
Ex-Texans QB Deshaun Watson Gets Critical Update
GettyDeshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns looks on during mandatory minicamp.
Watson, whom the Texans have since replaced with C.J. Stroud, was part of a larger conversation around the Browns’ QB situation heading into Week 5. BrownsZone.com’s Scott Petrak appeared on 92.3 The Fan on Monday with the sentiments.
Watson’s health was at the heart of Petrak’s lack of faith in his seeing the field for the Browns this season. The Browns also had options like rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.
The Browns named Gabriel the starter in Week 5 after relieving Joe Flacco in Week 4.
Watson is still on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list as he recovers from a re-torn Achilles tendon, so he was never an option in this decision. He has posted workout videos, but he has yet to return to official team work.
“There’s differences between working by yourself and working out in the fieldhouse and running around and throwing [and saying], ‘Okay, let’s start this clock,’” BrownsZone.com’s Scott Petrak said on 92.3 The Fan’s “Baskin and Phelps” on September 29.
“We’ve always heard October, and October starts tomorrow. Is it right at the beginning of October, or is it a couple weeks in? My guess is it won’t be this week [that] we’ll get the activation, but I think it’s coming. But we’ll see. There is a difference, like I said, between working out on your own and ‘Okay, am I ready to go play in a football game?’”
Deshaun Watson Could Be Stuck on Browns’ Bench
GettyDeshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns looks on against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Watson, 30, has completed 61.2% of his passes for 3,365 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions during his three seasons with the Browns. He has started 19 games in that span due to various injuries.
“I think all along, the organization has thought it would be – I don’t know if [calling it] a ‘long shot’ is too strong, but for Watson to play this year. They were not counting on him. I still don’t think they’re counting on him. I know he’s pushing really hard to get back and prove that he can play. So, I would say probably not this week, but I can’t say that for sure,” Petrak said.
“The trade bait thing is interesting, … I don’t know if anybody’d be willing to trade for that contract. I don’t know what the Browns would have to do to make somebody [take it on].”
Watson is signed through 2026 on a five-year, $230 million contract.
He has a $46 million cap hit next season. The Browns can cut him next summer, but they would incur an $80 million dead cap hit without any savings. With a post-June 1 trade in 2026, the Browns would still incur $34.7 million in dead money.
However, they would save $46 million.
Deshaun Watson Faces Trade Conundrum
GettyDeshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns watches on the sidelines against the Los Angeles Rams.
A trade this season would take on more than $34 million in dead cap charges while saving just over $1 million. Moreover, Watson’s recent film will not entice potential suitors into surrendering draft capital and/or players to the Browns for the ex-Texans QB.
“For another team to want to trade for him, he’d have to play great enough. Then, the Browns would have to consider keeping him, right? Because they’re already paying him for next year, and I feel like that ship has sailed. And I don’t know why we would think that he would be better this year after not having played forever, and being bad for the last however many games we saw him play,” Petrak said.
“This is about moving forward, and you have two rookies that I would want to see at some point if this season goes like it looks it’s going to go. I just don’t see a huge upside. I feel like the organization wants to move past Deshaun Watson. And they’ll be able to just kind of bite the bullet and take that contractual, take it all on in the offseason and move on from him. I feel like that’s been the plan, but plans change.”
“If you convince me that if he played, you could trade him, then yeah, I could see playing him,” Petrak said. “Given him versus Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders, I’d prefer to see those guys.”
The Browns opted to go with youth, at least while the former Texans star, Watson, rehabs.
Josh Buckhalter covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He has covered both leagues since 2016, including bylines at FanSided, Last Word on Sports and Clocker Sports. He’s based in Villa Park, Illinois. Follow Josh on Twitter and Instagram: @JoshGBuck More about Josh Buckhalter
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