Deshaun Watson has been a major talking point since the Cleveland Browns mortgaged their future in a trade with the Houston Texans for the controversial quarterback. As if trading three first-round picks and a third-rounder wasn’t enough, the Browns doubled down as they signed Watson to a five-year extension worth $230 million.
All this happened in 2022, and as we now prepare for the 2024 season, we are still waiting for the player Cleveland traded for to show up. If former NFL receiver James Jones is correct, that may never happen.
Jones, who spent nine years in the league and has since become an analyst, discussed Watson on FS1’s “Speak.” He said simply, “I think the Deshaun Watson of the Houston Texans is gone.”
For Browns fans, Jones did offer a glimmer of hope, stating that Cleveland has a good enough roster to win with Watson. He even suggested Watson could be a solid quarterback — just not one who will justify the massive contract or the cost it took to land him via trade.
.@89JonesNTAF: Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans is gone. 🏈 pic.twitter.com/Elt85QBK7A
— Speak (@SpeakOnFS1) July 11, 2024
Can Deshaun Watson Silence the Critics?
It’s hard to argue against Jones on this one. Watson has had some flashes of brilliance but has suited up for just 12 games in two years. For the majority of those 12 games, all we’ve heard is how he needs to shake the rust off.
At this point, it’s not rust. Watson has shown us who he is, and that’s not an elite quarterback. Could that change? Absolutely. But for now, he’s a wildly inconsistent quarterback who struggles with accuracy and turnovers.
Hopefully, Watson understands where he needs to improve. There’s concern there as well since his response to criticism is to say he “must be pretty damn good.” Unless he realizes he hasn’t been playing “pretty damn good” since joining the Browns and finds a way to improve, the critics will only get louder and gain more ammunition.
As the Browns head into the 2024 season, the pressure on Watson to deliver will be immense. The franchise and its fans are desperate for a return on their significant investment. Watson’s ability to rise to the occasion and prove the doubters wrong could define his legacy in Cleveland.
The clock is ticking for Deshaun Watson. Can he silence the critics and justify the Browns’ faith in him? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain: the spotlight will be firmly on Watson as he tries to reclaim his place among the NFL’s elite quarterbacks.
