Deshaun Watson has, without a doubt, been a huge letdown ever since he was traded to the Cleveland Browns in 2022. Since then, the 28-year-old quarterback has only been able to participate in 12 games and hasn’t shown much when he has worn the uniform.
When the 2024 season gets underway, fans of the Browns will undoubtedly be hoping that Watson can return to the form that made him one of the top quarterbacks in the league while he was with the Houston Texans. However, the quarterback has been ranked quite low by quite a number of publications for the 2024 campaign.
Watson has been ranked 23rd in Pro Football Focus’ ranking of quarterbacks ahead of the upcoming season, a significant drop from his 13th place ranking ahead of the 2023 campaign.
Here is what Pro Football Focus had to say about Watson entering the 2024 season.
“Watson has been a disappointment since joining the Cleveland Browns. He has played in just six games in each of the past two seasons due to suspension and injury, and he is coming off season-ending surgery to his throwing shoulder. His numbers reflect all of that. Watson’s 58.7 cumulative PFF passing grade over the past two years ranks 53rd among qualifying passers. Still, his dominant days in a Texans uniform are not a figment of your imagination. Perhaps this is the year we see it again, though he is running out of time to prove it.”
Watson was ranked by PFF as a quarterback who “can single-handedly win and lose games,” placing him in the fifth tier. It is worth mentioning that the publication categorized their quarterback rankings into seven groups, each featuring a unique title.
Other quarterbacks ranked in the fifth tier together with Watson in PFF’s QB rankings include Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Baker Mayfield at the top, followed by New Orleans Saints’ Derek Carr, and Pittsburgh Steelers’ Russell Wilson. Watson was ranked lowest in the tier.
Other networks that have ranked the quarterbacks in the league ahead of the 2024 season are The 33rd Team, CBS Sports, and Pro Football Network. In each of those networks’ rankings, Watson came in at No. 27, No. 17, and No. 19, respectively.
What’s Next For Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson?
The Cleveland Browns have not gotten anything close to what they bargained for when they traded three first-round picks and more to get Deshaun Watson in 2022. That trade appears to be one of the worst ever at this point.
Watson appeared to be finding his rhythm again at one point last season, but a season-ending shoulder injury suffered against the Baltimore Ravens in November sent him back to square one.
The Browns have a strong squad that qualified for the postseason last season, and if the quarterback can bounce back in 2024, the team might surprise everyone by making a run at the Super Bowl.
In terms of expectations, seeing as Watson is now back to full health and throwing again, the Browns will need the signal-caller to return to his 2018–20 form in order to make a deep playoff run in 2024.
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