The Cleveland Browns made one of the biggest quarterback investments in NFL history when they traded for Deshaun Watson and handed him a fully guaranteed $230 million contract. Several years later, that deal is still drawing attention for all the wrong reasons.

Bleacher Report analyst Brad Gagnon pointed to Watson's limited production since arriving in Cleveland as the key reason for the ranking.

"The Problem: Four years into that infamous deal, Watson has thrown a grand total of 19 touchdown passes in 19 starts. He hasn't been an effective NFL player since 2020, and that's extremely unlikely to suddenly change in his age-31 season," Gagnon wrote on June 12.

Gagnon also pointed to both Watson's production and the financial burden attached to the contract as major concerns.

"The Kicker: The former Pro Bowler will count nearly $45 million against the cap in a walk year—the third-highest hit in the NFL," Gagnon wrote, ranking the worst NFL contracts ahead of next season.

As such, Watson took the top spot on that list, with Chris Godwin and Dante Moore Jr. also making an appearance.

Interestingly, Watson has historically enjoyed success against Cincinnati. In five career games against the Bengals, the veteran quarterback has posted a strong 91.9 passer rating while throwing for 1,007 yards, five touchdowns, and just two interceptions.

Since signing the contract with the Browns, Watson has been plagued by injuries, including missing the entirety of the 2025 season due to a ruptured Achilles.

The Browns added several new options this offseason, drafting Taylen Green as their sixth-round pick, giving the team more competition and depth.

With several questions still surrounding the position, Watson's contract remains a significant storyline as the Browns continue preparing for the future.

Browns Insider Discusses Cleveland's 2026 Outlook

The Cleveland Browns have plenty of attention on their quarterback competition heading into the 2026 season, with Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson both being part of the conversation.

According to Dawg Pound Daily, however, Browns reporter Jaleel Grandberry recently argued that Cleveland's biggest concern may not be tied to either quarterback winning the job.

"The actual worst-case scenario for Cleveland in 2026 will be the team winning enough games to keep them out of a high draft pick, but doing so with bad quarterback play," he wrote on June 17.

Grandberry's point centres on the possibility of the Browns remaining competitive without finding a long-term answer at quarterback.

"If a team has a really good defense and special teams units, as well as a good run game, they could find their way to around nine wins — even with subpar quarterback play," Grandberry further added.

For Cleveland, the upcoming season isn't just about wins and losses. It's also about gaining clarity at quarterback. As training camp approaches, that remains one of the biggest strategies surrounding the team.

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Written by

Debanjali Rakshit

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote