Browns Trade Proposal: Deshaun Watson for $160 million QB

admin | February 16, 2024 | Other Clubs | No Comments

The Cleveland Browns believe in Deshaun Watson, but may explore releasing him from his contract through a deal.

Watson’s three-year, fully-guaranteed contract of $230 million complicates any potential transaction. It would also need to include a team that is paying a premium for its own poor quarterback and may see Watson as an upgrade.

ESPN commentator Mike Tannenbaum, a former executive with the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins, has proposed trading Watson to the New York Giants for quarterback Daniel Jones.

“Why is Watson more valuable to the Giants than he would be to the Browns?” On Friday, February 16, Aaron Goldhammer of ESPN Cleveland’s “The Really Big Show” interviewed Tannenbaum.

“Because they gotta win,” Tannenbaum replied. “They gotta win right now, and they’re not gonna get to where they wanna go with Daniel Jones.”

“But we’ve gotta win, Mike,” Goldhammer responded. “We’ve been waiting for a Super Bowl here since … the Super Bowl was invented.”

“You’re winning. You won eleven games. “That was extremely difficult, and you accomplished it without Deshaun Watson,” Tannenbaum remarked. “So now, how can we maximize what he could bring back to us?”

“It gets more complicated because of what’s happened and the money,” Tannenbaum explained. “If Cleveland can develop Deshaun Watson into Tee Higgins or Chris Jones, they will significantly improve their football team.” And because of what you’ve accomplished as a quarterback, you have tremendous versatility.”

The Browns can win even without Deshaun Watson at quarterback.

Cleveland has shown over the last two seasons that it can win with a quarterback other than Watson on the roster.Over the past two years, quarterbacks Joe Flacco (4-1) and Jacoby Brissett, PJ Walker, and youngster Dorian Thompson-Robinson (6-10) had a combined record of 6-10.

Despite Watson’s 8-4 record, Tannenbaum argues that the Browns can still be successful without him, especially with Flacco. In Tannenbaum’s proposed trade, Jones could theoretically replace Watson and perform well enough for Cleveland to win.

Otherwise, the Browns can try to bring back Flacco and create a quarterback competition during training camp. Jones’ four-year, $160 million contract has three seasons remaining, the same as Watson’s, but Cleveland would pay less per year.

Daniel Jones Needs Specific Circumstances to Succeed, Which Browns Can Provide

The idea that Jones could come to Cleveland and reinvent his career is a leap, to say the least.

Jones’s injury limited him to just six games in 2023. In 2022, New York made the playoffs and won a Wildcard away game against the Minnesota Vikings, resulting in a $160 million deal for him. Jones concluded the season with 3,205 yards passing, 15 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. He also carried for 708 yards and 7 touchdowns, according to Pro Football Reference.

Jones has never been a prolific passer, reaching 3,000 yards twice in his five-year NFL career and throwing for more than 15 touchdowns only once (24 in his rookie season in 2019). When Saquon Barkley is healthy, Jones has shown to be a formidable running back.

It’s unknown if Nick Chubb will return to the Browns in 2024, but if he does and is fully healthy, Jones may make a significant impact in Cleveland.