Deshaun Watson Gets Bad News on NFL Future

Despite his struggles, Deshaun Watson remains the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback, as the team faces limited alternatives to pivot in a new direction.

The Browns made a blockbuster trade for Deshaun Watson in 2022, sending a haul of assets to the Houston Texans, including three first-round picks. Along with the trade, Cleveland gave Watson an unprecedented fully guaranteed contract worth $230 million — making it one of the riskiest investments in NFL history.

The Browns envisioned Watson as their franchise quarterback, capable of leading the team deep into the postseason. However, more than two years later, the results have fallen far short of expectations. Critics now label the deal as one of the worst in NFL history .

Since joining the Browns, Watson has posted a 9-9 record, throwing for 3,237 yards with 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions — far from the elite performance Cleveland had hoped for when they mortgaged their future for him.

The Browns face significant financial hurdles if they attempt to cut or trade Watson, as doing so would result in unprecedented cap penalties. In a piece for The Athletic , Mike Sando consulted with multiple NFL executives to explore a theoretical pathway for Cleveland to offload Watson and escape his contract. However, the consensus is that any potential deal would require the Browns to include substantial draft capital to make it even somewhat feasible.

During the conversations, one noted that if the Browns cut Watson, he wouldn't find another opportunity in the NFL.

“They could cut him tomorrow and no one would pick him up,” the exec told Sando. “I would not want that toxicity to have anything to do with my team build.”

Watson remains the starting quarterback in Cleveland — for now. He'll also have to move forward without his top receiver, Amari Cooper, who was sent to the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday.

Related: BREAKING: Bills Answer Jets' Davante Adams With Blockbuster Trade For Pro Bowl Receiver Amari Cooper