What was set to be a big deal for the Cleveland Browns has taken a big turn and now it became a big issue. Quarterback Deshaun Watson, out with an injury and tied down by a huge $230 million deal, is still a key talk point in Cleveland, and a sign of a risk that has not worked out yet.
As the 2025 NFL season approaches, Watson’s place with the team is not clear, both on the field and in the locker room. And for a lot of Browns fans, their wait is over.
His star loses shine
Watson’s 2024 run ended early due to a torn Achilles. A snag in his healing this year makes many doubt if he will play in 2025. While the Browns have yet to say if he’s out, they now only hope for the best.
Meanwhile, Watson helps others as a mentor. He is often in quarterback meetings, giving help to newbies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, and to older pros Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett. Team insiders say he is very helpful and cheers them on behind the scenes.
However, for many fans, this is not good enough.
The $230 million weight
Watson’s big contract, which was signed in 2022 after a huge swap with the Houston Texans, is still a big and bad deal in NFL history. With a payout of nearly $73 million in both 2025 and 2026, the Browns just changed the deal to ease short-term financial pressure. Still, this locks Watson on the team for at least two more seasons, no matter how he plays or if he is able to play.
This leaves fans stuck. Calls to let him go or swap him get louder, but the cost of doing so keeps that from happening.
“Deshaun Watson just won’t go away,” one columnist wrote. “The Browns’ nightmare might not be over yet.”
Changes in the quarterback room
With Watson’s spot unsure, the Browns have five quarterbacks heading into training camp, a clear sign that no one is sure who will start.
Sanders and Gabriel are still developing. Flacco and Pickett bring know-how but not much new. Watson, if okay, is still the best pick, but that’s a big “if.”
The choice to keep Watson as a younger player guide has stirred some talk. Some like his lead and know-how, but others say his past off the field and his dropping play make him a bad pick to lead.
Fans disapproval
On social media and fan sites, it’s clear: many Browns backers want him out. They say the Watson try has turned into a mess and takes too much from the team. Yet the office is not able to do anything due to his deal.
For now, the Browns wait and hope the Watson situation gets better, but also getting ready for what might come without him.
Training camp might give some answers, but maybe not necessarily closure. If Watson plays or keeps helping, he will remain to be a big part of the team. And for fans wanting stability and success, the question stays: how long will the Deshaun Watson story keep going for the Cleveland Browns?
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