It’s…… bad.
The Cleveland Browns thought that by trading for Deshaun Watson and ensuingly giving him a massive payday, they were going to get one of the best quarterbacks in the league.
That’s what Watson was with the Houston Texans. However, in Cleveland, he’s been anything but that. The Browns have yet to score more than 18 points in a game and have tallied 16 or fewer in four straight games.
They are just 1-5 on the season and are 0-2 at home, having been outscored 32-54 in front of their own fans. Watson has been almost fully to blame, as he’s topped a 65% completion rate just twice this season and has yet to eclipse 200 passing yards in a game. He’s had just one game with multiple passing touchdowns.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell broke down just how bad it’s been for the former superstar quarterback.
New free column: It’s time for the Browns to give up on Deshaun Watson, who is off to the worst start in modern league history.
Since 2007, out of 566 passers through six weeks, Watson ranks:
QBR: 558th
Yds/Dropback: 565th
First Down Rate: 566thhttps://t.co/2sRVcLHv8W pic.twitter.com/qTubGAAztL— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) October 14, 2024
BROOOOO pic.twitter.com/DAdeGzj32c
— Portersburgh (@PortersBurgh) October 14, 2024
Now, if you’re a Browns fan, you’re probably still trying to justify the payday and mentioning how Nick Chubb has yet to play. Watson needs to be better without Chubb and should be at least capable of leading an offense.
He hasn’t shown that this season, and his historically bad start should have the Browns looking elsewhere for potential.
Given what he’s due financially, the Browns will likely have to see out at least this season, but they’re in a sticky place moving forward if Watson doesn’t figure things out in the near future.