The Cleveland Browns took the NFL world by surprise when they pulled off the grand heist of stealing Deshaun Watson, away from his other suitors. But, in doing so, they also sold their soul, metaphorically speaking, to get the coveted QB. On one hand, they sold their morality to walk out the red carpet for the multiple sexual misconduct allegations– over twenty, mind you. On the other hand, they gave the man at the center of all the lawsuits the highest-paid contract in NFL history. Not only did they sell their moral soul but they also tied themselves to these curtails in the hopes of getting their long-awaited Super Bowl appearance, by dishing out that obscene amount of money. So, make no mistake, Deshaun Watson must work out for the Browns.

Making History, Yet Again

Deshaun Watson is making history, yet again. Albeit, not the good kind. But then again, he hasn’t been making good headlines lately to begin with. However, he is making history again in 2023, with the largest cap hit for an NFL franchise, ever.

Let us remember his lackluster return to the NFL where he posted an abysmal seven touchdowns to five interceptions. It doesn’t take a master statistician to know that isn’t a great ratio. Granted, he only had a sample size of six games, but it’s hard to imagine that even with a full season that the stats would have improved. The rust of not playing for two years was obvious, the boos he got from fans were audible, and the offensive stagnation was frustrating.

Additionally, his record cap hit will prevent the team from bringing in any big-name players to help them. Even if they were able to attract some stars, how many of them would want to play on the veteran’s minimum contract? Furthermore, it’s not like they could attract a lot of people to take that sacrifice, as the team still has 52 other mouths to feed, and will have the last of their money trying to keep the team afloat. If you want a full breakdown of their salary cap management and free agents, check out this article.

Browns Are In Hot Water

The Browns desperately need Deshaun Watson to work out for them. Not only did they trade away the quarterback who saved the franchise, but they also sold their morality and financial security to bring in Watson. Think about it, Myles Garrett, Amari Cooper, and Nick Chubb, they only have so many years left on their contracts.

In addition, football is a team sport, while they have superstars at certain positions, they still need a team around them to win games. All things considered, it’s amazing, in a sarcastic sense, that this trade even happened. To go a step further, it’s even wilder they paid him the amount they did. You don’t need a business degree to see it’s clearly a bad decision. But sadly, the Cleveland Browns have an incessant need to prove they are the dumbest franchise in the NFL.

By : Zach Espinoza

*Photo courtesy of Athlon Sports*