Browns: It’s absurd to even consider trading for Deshaun Watson

Rumors abound that claim the Cleveland Browns won’t pursue Deshaun Watson and the fact this needs to be said is an insult towards Baker Mayfield.

Anyone who thinks the Cleveland Browns haven’t found their man by this point just won’t ever accept it. The Browns saw their quarterback of the future, Baker Mayfield, have a marvelous season from (almost) start to finish. He won 11 games in the regular season, defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers, and nearly beat the Kansas City Chiefs. So why there are still people asking about the team’s interest in Deshaun Watson is infuriating.

To even start off a phone call asking “are the Browns interested in Watson?” shows disrespect. These aren’t questions that need to be asked about anymore. Why would they? For all that Watson is, it’s not like he’s leaps and bounds better (if he’s better at all) than Mayfield. So why would the Browns want to trade for Watson, who already has lower leg issues, and isn’t shy of forcing his way out of a team the minute he’s unhappy? That alone would make someone wary of going after him.

If you’re the Jets or Dolphins? Sure, go for it. You’ve got nothing to look forward to. Your young quarterbacks look more like busts than stars. Go all in to improve your fortune. If you’re the Browns, however, and have a consistently good quarterback who can do the job? Why would this trade make any sense?

You’re a win away from the AFC title game. Why give up anywhere from two to four first-round draft picks to get marginally better?

Now, this isn’t’ meant to denigrate Mary Kay Cabot, it’s her job to ask questions but this isn’t the first time these ideas of the Browns going after Watson have popped up from people in the media. It’s insulting to Mayfield who played his butt off in 2020, learned his third new system in as many years, from his fourth head coach, did so with severely damaged ribs, a depleted receiver corps, and no defense to bail the offense out.

Meaning they had to be perfect to win most games and they usually were.

Mayfield beat the Steelers twice, took the team to the playoffs, had a real case for being a Pro-Bowler, and established himself as the man going forward.

Put this talk of trading for the Texans quarterback to bed. In fact, the only Texan who should be linked from this point forward in trade talks with the Browns is J.J. Watt.