Deshaun Watson is the most disappointing quarterback the Cleveland Browns have had since coming back in 1999 (and that's saying something). In a span of three years, he has officially played one season's worth of games. In those seventeen games, Watson has thrown for 3,069 yards, completing 60% of his passes along with nineteen touchdowns and twelve interceptions. Those stats surely aren't what team owner Jimmy Haslam had in mind when he offered Watson a five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million contract.
Deshaun Watson threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jordan Atkins with 7:02 left in the 4th quarter of Sunday's game against the Washington Commanders. That play marked a lone bright spot in an otherwise dismal day for Watson and the Cleveland Browns. Watson, who went 15 for 28 for 125 yards and 1 touchdown, looked at time panicked in the pocket, leading to him quickly abandoning the pocket and attempting to extend plays with his legs.
In terms of efficiency, the entire offense looked enept for the majority of the game. Throughout the 13-34 loss, similar problems the Browns faced all year reared again. Subpar blocking, dropped passes, and drive killing penalties have all been a recurring theme as Cleveland now finds themselves 1-4 on the season thus far. It's hard not to notice this team's complete regression from last year. It seems as if this team is a shell of the team that went 11-6, winning four of their last five regular season games. Last year's vaunted top-ranked defense ranks just 13th in yards allowed this year. While still good for the most part, it's a clear step back from the NFL's elite. As for the offensive side of the ball, they rank 27th in rushing yards per game and 30th in passing yards per game, as well.
To say that the offensive line has struggled recently would be putting it lightly. Deshaun Watson has been sacked 26 times in five games this season so far. To put that in comparison, in 2022, Browns QB Jacoby Brissett was sacked 24 times in sixteen games. To the O-Line's credit, there have been multiple injuries to players such as former first round picks Jedrick Wills Jr., James Hudson, and Jack Conklin. The lack of cohesiveness among the front six was evident given the fact Watson was sacked seven times.
Another factor that possibly could be the cause for the offensive struggles might be coaching. Over the off-season, Cleveland Browns offensive line coach Bill Calahan was hired to the same position by the Tennessee Titans. Replacing the highly regarded coach is former Seattle Seahawks O-Line coach Andy Dickerson. Dickerson has his work cut out for him given the fact Watson is on pace to be sacked a record-shattering 88 times.
Critics of Watson's play have noted the throws into tight coverage and the lack of zip on his intermediate throws, but one thing has also stood out. He hasn't had a significant amount of help from the skill position players this season so far. The Browns have a whopping seventeen dropped passes in five games, four more than the next team. This season-long difficulty catching the ball showed again Sunday as former Denver Broncos Jerry Juedy had a pass bounce off of his hands in the end zone during the third quarter. That specific drop derailed any offensive momentum the Browns had as they settled for a field goal. All-Pro Wide Receiver Amari Cooper, who had four catches for 60 yards, currently leads the entire league with nine drops. A rather disturbing stat given the fact he had seven in fifteen games last year.
When the Browns signed Deshaun Watson back in 2022, the original thought was that he could eventually revert back to the former three-time Pro Bowler that he was in Houston. Given his troubling legal problems to the Cleveland front office, the possible reward outweighed the risk. Clearly, he has not come close to the player he once was. In four years in Houston, Watson had a passer rating of 104.5, which would be the highest in NFL history over the likes of Peyton Manning, Patrick Mahomes, and Tom Brady. In his three years in Cleveland, however, he has posted a passer rating of only 79.4. That would put him under the likes of career journeymen Sam Darnold, Josh McCown, and Elvis Grbac.
Saying that Deshaun Watson is the only issue the Browns have at this time simply wouldn't be true. Saying that he is the main reason for the team's substandard start to the season would be a stretch, but it's clear that his inferior play mixed with his level of infamy and outrageous near $28 million cap hit have contributed to what Browns fans such as myself have been dealing with for over two decades: disappointment.
