NBC Sports NFL analyst Chris Simms has begun his annual top 40 quarterback rankings as training camp draws closer. Some are unsure where to rank Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson after the struggles he had in the final six games returning from suspension last season. Simms believes that his struggles were from rust and not diminished skills and that he will bounce back.
The Browns should be inclined to believe that Simms is correct, and after a full offseason without a looming suspension, Cleveland is hopeful that Watson will make them legitimate contenders. He has already shown off some impressive throws in OTAs, and with a mandatory minicamp coming up soon in Berea, it seems that the talented signal-caller is on the rise.
If the Browns want to compete seriously for a title in 2023, they will need Watson to prove Simms correct and play at a superstar-caliber level over the course of Cleveland’s grueling 17-game schedule.
