The current Browns regime has already made some significant evaluations at the quarterback position, be it on the record about Carson Wentz or anonymously about Baker Mayfield. So it would be interesting to hear the team’s own internal audit on how it has handled the position since discarding Mayfield and signing Deshaun Watson, currently, roughly, the 18th-best quarterback in the NFL, to the most binding player contract in NFL history.
We’re not here to kick Watson while he is down. The Browns announced Wednesday he will miss the remainder of his second season in Cleveland to have shoulder surgery stemming from a “new discomfort” that arose during a hit sustained in the first half of a win over the Ravens. Indeed, there was not a down Sunday against Baltimore that did not end in some sort of pained grimace from the quarterback. This, after Watson missed time with a shoulder injury earlier in 2023. While I am not joining the chorus of folks who said that Watson’s performance against Baltimore was a watershed moment for him in Cleveland—he did, after all, throw a pick-six and complete just six of his first 20 passes—the second-half comeback included a handful of good throws.
Tommy Gilligan/USA TODAY Sports
