Key Browns player identified as having something to prove this season

When the Cleveland Browns traded with the Houston Texans to acquire quarterback Deshaun Watson, they were hoping to get the savior of their franchise. He was seen as a clear upgrade from former quarterback Baker Mayfield. Watson was a young, up-and-coming quarterback who had taken a then-lowly Texans team to some prominence.

The return on that deal for the Browns has been less than ideal so far. Injuries and suspension issues have been the main reasons, but even when Watson has been healthy and in the lineup, the results haven’t been on par with what the Browns gave up to get him. For that reason, Dennis Waszak Jr., of the Associated Press has tabbed Watson as one of the players with the most to prove in 2024 .

After being acquired from Houston and getting a five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million deal from Cleveland in 2022, Watson has made just 12 starts. He was suspended by the NFL for 11 games in 2022 for violating the personal conduct policy after being accused of sexual assault and harassment by two dozen women. He missed 11 games last season after breaking a bone in his right shoulder. Joe Flacco became a fan favorite while leading Cleveland to the playoffs and Watson will be expected to do at least that this season.

In the two years since arriving in Cleveland, Watson has managed to play in just six games each season. He’s put up a somewhat impressive 8-4 record in those games, but he’s averaging just a shade under 187 yards passing, with a completion percentage south of 60% and a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 14:9. He has also taken 37 sacks in those 12 games, so it's fair to say that he hasn't had the greatest protection in front of him, either.

Cleveland is going to need a big season from Watson if they’re going to have any hopes of competing in their own division, let alone against the powerhouse teams in the AFC. Watson needs to show shades of his 2020 season, where he led the league in passing yards and had 33 touchdowns to just 7 interceptions on his way to his third – and to this point last – Pro Bowl.