The Cleveland Browns made a poor start to the 2024 NFL season with a 33-17 loss against the Dallas Cowboys , and quarterback Deshaun Watson had a nightmare first half.
The Cowboys were up 20-3 at the half as Watson struggled to get anything going with the Browns offense. Watson, who is in the third year of his five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed deal, went 6 of 13 for 33 yards and one interception through the opening two quarters.
Watson improved in the second half as the Browns outscored the Cowboys, but the damage had already been done. Elsewhere on the first NFL Sunday of the new season, former Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield was almost perfect as he threw four touchdowns in a 37-20 win.
Mayfield has found his groove with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers since joining the organization in 2023 and went 24 of 30 for 289 yards as they beat the Washington Commanders . The Browns used their first-overall pick on Mayfield back in 2018 before deciding to go all-in on Watson, which now looks to be a mistake.
The Browns decided following the 2021 season that Mayfield was not their franchise quarterback and traded three first-round picks (2022, 2023, 2024) to the Houston Texans to acquire Watson. A Browns third-round pick in 2023 and fourth-round picks in 2022 and 2024 were also exchanged as part of the deal.
Despite a steady four years for Mayfield including one playoff appearance, the Browns decided he was no longer their No. 1 and Baker requested a trade. Mayfield had been dealing with injury problems, but the willingness of the Browns to offer a then-record contract to Watson sent a clear message.
Mayfield was traded to the Carolina Panthers before joining the Los Angeles Rams, but when entering free agency the Buccaneers decided to take a shot on the former Heisman Trophy winner. Mayfield went 9-8 in his first season and earned a three-year contract extension with the Bucs worth up to $100 million, with $50 million guaranteed.
Things have worked out for Mayfield, who admitted that he made some mistakes during his time with the Browns. "The last year in Cleveland as banged up as I was, looking back," Mayfield said on the "Pardon My Take" podcast.
"I truly believe everything happens for a reason, playing through injuries and whatnot I wouldn’t change it now obviously, but in the midst of it, should I have probably gotten surgery and sat out? Yeah probably." Mayfield has admitted that he should have instantly received treatment for his injury rather than making it worse.
"Watching the tape of those games now, cause after I got surgery I had to like reteach myself my throwing motion," Mayfield added. "I got with a coach and redid everything cause I had manufactured having an arm stuck to my body, my leg was all beat up too, so many factors. Like I said, I’m stubborn."
Mayfield looks back on his time in Cleveland with fond memories and still feels a connection with the fans. "Part of it was feeling like I was part of the Cleveland community, like the blue-collar attitude of ‘we’re gonna fight through this.’
"Not that I’m blaming the Cleveland people. But I feel like that’s just that attitude that we had going into it, and everybody kind of embraced it, but I wasn’t able to play to the best of my ability by any means."
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