The Cleveland Browns have yet to see the elite version of Deshaun Watson they were hoping to get when they signed the former Houston Texans WR to one of the most ridiculous, unprecedented deals in NFL history.
Over the past two seasons, Watson has battled injuries and dealt with a suspension in 2022, so their hopeful franchise QB ahas only suited up for the Browns for 11 games.
Cleveland is hoping Watson can play a full season in 2024 and produce like he did in his final year in Houston.
In 2020, former Clemson star threw for nearly 5,000 yards, 33 touchdowns and just 7 interceptions, with a QB Rating of 112.4.
Deshaun Watson has always been his best with a big bodied WR he can throw the ball up to in 50/50 situations and know they will come down with it. As of now, the Cleveland Browns don’t have a player with that build on their team.
In Houston, he and is former Clemson alum DeAndre Hopkins had an unprecedented run for several years and were widely regarded as the top QB/WR tandem in the NFL.
Wile Cleveland has an elite-level wideout in Amari Cooper, he’s known for his high-level route running ability and burning defensive backs over the top with his breakaway speed.
Tight end David Njoku is a big-bodied threat in the middle of the field that found great chemistry with Joe Flacco at the end of the 2023 season, but him and Watson haven’t played together much and his role is much different on an offense than a wideout similar to Hopkins.
On a recent podcast, Watson made is pitch to another former Clemson alum that appears to have every trait he’s looking for.
Deshaun Watson Makes Case For Tee Higgins To Join Him With The Cleveland Browns
While Ja’Marr Chase has been viewed as the No. 1 wideout for the Cincinnati Bengals during the Joe Burrow era, Tee Higgins has played just as much of a role in the team’s success, helping a struggling organization reach the Super Bowl in just two years.
Higgins will be a free agent this offseason and he will have suitors after a strong four years with the Bengals. In that time, he caught 257 passes for 3,684 yards and 24 touchdowns, going over 1,000 yards in two seasons.
The former Clemson star is almost guaranteed to leave the Bengals as teams throughout the league view him as a true No. 1 big bodied threat similar to DJ Metcalf or AJ Brown. He’s due for a major payday and with money tied up with Burrow’s huge extension and Chase due for a contract, it’s almost impossible to see Higgins staying in Cincinnati.
Tee Higgins was a topic of conversation on Deshaun Watson’s podcast “QB Unplugged” and made a public plea for him to sign with the Cleveland Browns.
You know what’s up with us man. I know you are down to roll. We want to pass the ball and are going to pass it a lot,” Watson said on the episode, which went live on January 26. “We are going to take care of you. The Cleveland fans will love you to death and we have the Clemson ties. We didn’t get to play with each other but this is our opportunity. Come on over to The Land.”
The Browns will have to do some magic with their cap space if they hope to sign Higgins. Spotrac estimates that his market value for a contract is four years and $74.4 million. That’d put him at around $18.6 million per season, which might not be a luxury the Browns can afford. The Bengals will also have the opportunity to hit him with the franchise tag and take him off the market.
Still, Deshaun Watson sent a clear message the Cleveland Browns front office he wants more weapons. Apparently Tee Higgins is at the top of his list.
