The Cleveland Browns are at a tipping point today. They’re dealing with the fallout of their own polarizing trade for quarterback Deshaun Watson. Unfortunately, since his arrival in 2022, Watson has been a bottom-tier quarterback. He is currently recovering from a major right Achilles injury that’ll most likely sideline him for at least half of the 2025 season. This looming crisis compels the incoming team’s leadership to start considering alternatives. By taking Dillon Gabriel over Shedeur Sanders, the Browns appear to be hinting at a change in their quarterback strategy.
The Browns took a huge risk in dealing for Watson. They traded away three first-round draft picks and then signed him to a fully guaranteed contract worth $230 million. Even team owner Jimmy Haslam has been forthright about the blunders tied to this trade, calling it a “big swing-and-miss.” The total jumps to 14.4 million if Watson stays on the roster for 2025. Do you cut him at the end of the year, with management needing to weigh the financial implications?
Deshaun Watson’s Struggles and Future
Deshaun Watson’s performance has been underwhelming since joining the Browns, raising questions about his long-term viability as the team’s starting quarterback. Watson’s play has definitely been a letdown for this season. To add insult to injury, he’s now suffered a right Achilles injury that will likely keep him out for most, if not all, of the 2025 season.
The consequences of his season-ending injury go far beyond on-court play. The Browns are on the hook for $46 million guaranteed to Watson in each of the next two seasons. Releasing him post-June-1 after the 2025 season would create a staggering $135 million dead cap charge. If this figure holds, it’ll become one of the biggest of all time in NFL history. It would quickly blow by the Denver Broncos’ record $85 million dead cap hit stemming from their March 2024 release of QB Russell Wilson.
“Once it got to a point where it felt like it was a pretty steep discount, we just felt like, especially relative to the alternative ways that we could use this selection, this made the most sense,” – Oyefusi
A New Direction with Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders
Cleveland had a clear desire to redefine their QB room. Just two drafts earlier, they passed on Dillon Gabriel three rounds before they took Shedeur Sanders. Gabriel’s selection foretells a strategic change of course, as Cleveland seeks to find a more stable option under center. Shedeur Sanders is growing into a star with his gaudy athletic and psychological fortitude. This makes for a more complicated picture for the team’s plans under center.
Their head coach, Kevin Stefanski, has experience coaching high completion percentage quarterbacks such as Case Keenum and Kirk Cousins. That experience can be a huge factor in shaping either Gabriel or Sanders into a franchise-caliber quarterback. These two acquisitions signify a new era in the Cleveland Browns organization. They’re more committed than ever to doing so without breaking the bank.
“Obviously you may not divide [the practice reps] ’25, 25, 25,’ but we feel really confident that we’ll have a plan that is fair to each player and fair to the team as well,” – Oyefusi
The Road Ahead for the Browns
As the Browns begin another offseason filled with hope, whatever optimism they might have must be tempered by the unknowns that still surround their quarterback spot. Deshaun Watson’s future now hangs in the balance due to his injury and performance issues. The team will need to consider its next steps very carefully.
These choices will affect the franchise for years to come. Should they choose to hang onto Watson, they’ll need to find a way to mitigate the financial consequences of his deal. Making this decision would constrain their ability to build a more competitive roster. Releasing Watson will free up more flexibility but isn’t as cut and dry.
The development of Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders will be critical in determining the team’s trajectory over the next few seasons. Their performances during training camp and preseason will likely influence how quickly the Browns can move on from Watson and establish a new identity at the quarterback position.
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