Deshaun Watson enters a 2024 NFL season where the Cleveland Browns‘ quarterback could be facing more pressure than ever before, and not just from opposing pass rushers.
Watson is looking to return from a season-ending injury to his throwing shoulder that ended his 2023 campaign after just six weeks and raised questions about the viability of fully-guaranteed contracts such as the one the Browns signed him to back in 2022.
All told, thanks in large part to a suspension stemming from sexual misconduct allegations, as well as last year’s injury, Watson has appeared in just 28 games over the past three seasons.
The Browns have pushed their chips into the middle of the table around Watson, hoping to spark a lengthy playoff run in 2024 by acquiring Jerry Jeudy to pair opposite Amari Cooper in the 28-year-old’s supporting cast. But, it might prove to be now-or-never for Watson in Cleveland.
Is Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson’s Job on The Line?
Bleacher Report’s Ryan Fowler put together a list of quarterbacks who could lose their jobs in 2024, including Watson.
“Since Cleveland sold the farm for Watson years ago,” Fowler writes for B/R. “Things have only continued to spiral downward at the position. Watson has looked lost at times in the pocket, leaving many to speculate whether or not head coach Kevin Stefanski should be so quick to hand Watson the keys to the offense this fall.
“Cleveland has a talented roster on both sides of the ball, but a lack of improvement under center could keep the Browns out of playoff contention. Offseason additions Jameis Winston and Tyler Huntley will loom large, as will 2023 Day 3 pick Dorian Thompson-Robinson.”
It sure sounds like Watson is on the hot-seat, which would be an astonishing development given the Browns traded the Houston Texans six draft picks and proceeded to sign him to a fully-guaranteed $230 million contract that has developed into a cautionary tale among 31 other teams.
But, Watson hasn’t been able to stop the Browns’ decades-long quarterback carousel from spinning, which was kind of the point of the trade, nor elevate Cleveland into the realm of legitimate Super Bowl contenders in the AFC.
Given that Thompson-Robinson is waiting in the wings, if Watson struggles, things could get interesting for Watson and the Browns if things go sideways early on this upcoming season.
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