Much has been made about the Falcons quarterback situation, but it’s not as bad as the Browns’ circumstances surrounding Deshaun Watson.
Atlanta is in quarterback purgatory, but all they’ve invested is a third-round pick and a few million dollars compared to Cleveland sinking multiple first-round picks and an unprecedented $230 million contract in Watson.
The three-time Pro-Bowler has struggled mightily since being traded to the Browns, but things have turned even more sour for Kevin Stafanski’s club as the news dropped on Wednesday that Watson will undergo season-ending surgery on his throwing shoulder.
Unfortunately for both sides, Watson was coming off the best game of the season and looked like the ship was righted, but injuries have been a constant during his tenure in Cleveland. In Sunday’s nailbiting win over the Ravens, Watson went 20-of-34 for 213 yards with one touchdown and one pick, plus he rushed for 37 yards on eight carries.
On the season, his 2023 campaign has been underwhelming, as he completed 61.4% of his passes for 1,115 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions in six games. For $230 million, that’s a supreme disappointment. The Browns are 5-1 in games that he started but much of that, outside of Sunday’s game in Baltimore, can be attributed to the team’s dominant defense.
Last season in six starts, Watson completed 58.2% of his passing attempts for 1,102 yards, seven touchdowns and five picks.
Though the Falcons have no direction at the position, at least they didn’t pay Deshaun Watson $90.8 million for 11 games of work. The Browns not only paid Deshaun Watson more than $90 million for less than a season’s worth of games, but the club also restructured his contract this offseason to bring his cap hit down to $19 million for 2023, which makes his cap hit the next three years $63.9 million each season.
The Falcons don’t have any inclination of a franchise quarterback, but they have a healthy cap sheet and an arsenal of draft picks to acquire one. It could be much worse.
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Photographer: Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire
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