When it comes to the “care” factor over past events in the NFL, football fans generally come in two categories — first, there are those who choose to just look forward, and let the past be the past, which is probably healthy.
Then there is the second category, of which I am one, where we obsess over the past. We dwell on past trades and making sure our team wins those (largely meaningless) battles. When we trade for multiple first round picks, I need my GM to hit on all of them. In that same trade, I need the player we send off to fail miserably.
If it sounds like I am describing the Deshaun Watson trade, you would be correct. I am. Since that day in March, when Nick Caserio shipped Watson out for multiple picks, including three first rounders, I have wanted the Texans to win every aspect of that deal. The Browns’ choosing to pay Watson $230 million guaranteed added more potential icing on the cake.
I think it’s safe to say now that, whatever we anticipated the best case scenario for the Texans and the best case for the Browns from this trade, the actuality of how this trade has played out far exceeds the extreme on both ends. The Texans are 5-2 and seem to have found their franchise quarterback in C.J. Stroud. They are in a good place.
The Browns are a disaster. They are 1-6, and still have $172 million on the cap for Watson AFTER this season is over. They haven’t had a first round pick since 2021, and Watson has been the worst quarterback this century by some advanced measurements. The ultimate sadness (or happiness, for many folks) came this past Sunday, when the saga of Watson hit its final sour note (for now, at least), with Watson suffering a torn right Achilles tendon:
If Deshaun Watson has been “the villain” to you, as a Texans fan, a massage therapist, or just a human being in general, that’s completely understandable. He’s been an awful quarterback, and arguably just as bad a human being, at least back in 2019 and 2020. For many, where the NFL is just as much episodic television with fictional characters as it is sport, this is King Joffrey getting his ultimate comeuppance. It’s why some fans cheered in Cleveland yesterday. The bad man “died,”
Watching Watson’s teammates stick for what a fantastic human being he’s been in Cleveland was borderline comical. Myles Garrett pointed out that he’s been a “model citizen” going back to college and “most of the pros”. MOST OF THE PROS! HE SAID THAT!
And then there is Jameis Winston, who is on another planet sometimes, including this 2 minutes of audio. What the hell is this?
If we can bring it back around to actual football (once many of you are done watching the above video clip 10 to 15 times, out of low key joy), the Texans long ago won this trade. Watson’s torn Achilles was just the ending the football gods wanted. To me, the big question is “Have we seen Deshaun Watson play his last snap in the NFL?”
The reality of the Browns’ situation is that (a) this Watson injury saved them from the uncomfortable and inevitable benching of Watson that was going to happen sooner or later, and (b) the best path for the Browns now is to just take the financial hickey from Watson’s contract, bottom out this season (3-14 sounds about right for their record) and pick a new QB next spring.
The reality of Watson’s situation is that this is the third major, season ending injury that he has suffered as a pro — his ACL in 2017, his shoulder last season, and now the Achilles. More that that, though, is that his baggage have pushed well into the “not worth the trouble” category. The dude is bad at football, and doesn’t seem wired to be a backup or a mentor to young guys. Whatever leadership qualities he displayed in Houston (in the good times) have been replaced by sulking, bad body language, and allowing Winston to do the pregame pep talks.
Back in 2019, there were few hotter commodities in the NFL than Watson, given age and the contract they were on. Maybe Patrick Mahomes, and that’s it. Now, Watson is football bankrupt, with a negative leadership equity and not nearly enough assets to be worth a dime. Good thing for him, he isn’t ACTUALLY bankrupt. Far from it, and that is now the Browns’ problem to deal with.
All hail, Nick Caserio!
Listen to Sean Pendergast on SportsRadio 610 from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. weekdays. Also, follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/SeanTPendergast, on Instagram at instagram.com/sean.pendergast, and like him on Facebook at facebook.com/SeanTPendergast.
This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2024.
