The Browns traded with the Houston Texans for Deshaun Watson a year and a half ago because they desperately needed a franchise quarterback.
He has looked like anything but that savior in the small sample size since he’s been here. Hopefully it will get better sooner rather than later, but what if he doesn’t ever regain the prolific prowess that he had with the Texans?
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What will the Browns do then?
There’s not much they can do.
Yes, it would damage the Browns on the salary cap exponentially because they gave him a fully guaranteed $230 million contract. They can’t trade him. No one is going to take on that contract. So, they’re stuck with him. Their hands are tied.
And yes, it would damage the Browns exponentially in terms of their roster because they will have given away three first-round NFL Draft picks and essentially received nothing in return.
But most importantly, with an offense otherwise good enough to be a strong playoff contender right now, this season, they would, in having to use a lesser-level player at the most important position in team sports, failed to have taken advantage of a real window of opportunity,
And they soon would be faced with rebuilding — again.
As such, then, it would set the franchise back three to five years, and in the NFL, where, “What did you do for me yesterday?,” is the mantra by which all teams must adhere, that would be a death knell.
So, the Browns are faced with only one way out, and that is to pour every ounce of effort and resources they can muster to work to get Watson back to where he was during his halcyon days in Houston. Age-wise, he should be entering the prime years of his career, and most people in the league believe he can get there.
In the meantime, they have to somehow find a viable option at quarterback for the times when Watson struggles and/or is hurt, or if he can’t get his groove back.
The clock is ticking, so there’s not a moment to waste.
Steve King
Oct. 27, 2023
Browns sign RB John Kelly Jr. to practice squad
BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns have signed RB John Kelly Jr. to the practice squad.
Kelly (5-10, 208) is officially in his third NFL season out of Tennessee. Originally drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 2018, Kelly has appeared in 13 games between the Rams (2018-19) and the Browns (2020-23). Kelly also spent time with the Browns during the preseason this year.
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