Getty Image / Scott Taetsch
The Cleveland Browns have bet their franchise on Deshaun Watson, spending not just a ton of money but also expending a lot of capital to acquire him from the Texans prior to the 2022 season.
While the Browns have been solid on the field the last two seasons, it would be hard for anyone to argue that the move for Deshaun Watson has been a success. Data compiled by NFL data expert Warren Sharp proves just how bad Deshaun Watson has been for the Browns.
Due to suspension and injury, Watson has only played twelve games in the last two years, And, the back-of-the-card numbers are not good. He has just 2217 yards with 14 touchdown passes and 9 interceptions while completing just 59% of his passes.
Those are some really bad general numbers, but sometimes those numbers can lie and not tell the full story. Unfortunately for Deshaun Watson, more advanced stats don’t help his cause either.
Warren Sharp tweeted out a list of the quarterbacks with the highest percentage of incompletions due to inaccurate passes. Not only is Watson at the top of the list, but he’s surrounded by pretty weak company.
highest rate of incompletions due to inaccurate passes:
43.9% – Deshaun Watson
40.6% – Tyrod Taylor
38.8% – Trevor Siemian
37.7% – Bryce Young
36.7% – Lamar Jackson
36.2% – Jordan Love
36.1% – Trevor Lawrence
35.6% – C.J. Stroud
35.4% – Aidan O'Connell
35.0% – Kenny Pickett…— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) June 30, 2024
Yeah, that is really, really bad. Simply put Deshaun Watson has not been the same passer that he was with the Houston Texans prior to his legal issues that led to an extended absence from the league.
In his final three seasons in Houston, Watson completed around 68% of his passes, a number that would put him near the top of the league. That’s declined by nearly 10%, and that’s not just normal variance. That proves his play has really declined.
The Browns hope they get much more out of Deshaun Watson this year. Quite honestly, if they do, they’re a bona fide Super Bowl contender. And, that player they hoped they got when they traded for him and signed him to a 5-year, $230 million contract that was fully guaranteed may be in there. But, it could be a make-or-break year for the Deshaun Watson experiment in Cleveland.