The head honcho in Cleveland called the Deshaun Watson acquisition a failure, but the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback doesn’t want to be written off yet.
Watson posted a video on Instagram calling out the doubters while he recovers from two torn Achilles injuries in the last year and three underwhelming seasons as the Browns’ quarterback.
“Greatness comes when your back is against the wall. It’s kind of better because you really got to lock in. You don’t have anything pretty much to lose, and I feel like that’s where I’m at right now. Everyone is doubting me.” Watson said in the video that included him working out and rehabbing highlights.
“Everyone don’t believe in me. Everyone don’t think I can get back to where I was. But I know, and I believe the work that I put in, that I believe in myself. The peace that I’ve been channelling the last couple of months. I know, I’m gonna be way better than before.”
In March, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam basically threw in the towel on Watson as the team’s quarterback of the future, stating that his fully guaranteed $230 million contract was a “swing and miss” by the team.
Watson, 29, has been a lightning rod for attention, as he had previously been a star quarterback for the Texans before Sєxual ᴀssault allegations and injuries derailed multiple seasons.
Once considered one of the sport’s top quarterback, he has not come close to resembling that caliber of player in Cleveland.
Watson has 19 total touchdown pᴀsses across 19 games with the Browns.
It had been speculated that the Browns could consider turning the page this offseason by drafting a quarterback at No. 2 since Watson looks extremely questionable to play in 2025.
However, cornerback/receiver Travis Hunter is the bettng favorite to be the No. 2 pick in the NFL draft and Shedeur Sanders could be in for a tumble down the draft board.
The Browns have just Watson and Kenny Pickett on their roster, making it highly likely that Cleveland brings in at least one more quarterback.
Watson still has two years left on his historic, fully guaranteed contract and hasn’t played in more than seven games in a season since 2020.