The Cleveland Browns franchise learned the man they invested $230 million guaranteed dollars in will only miss six games for violation of the league’s personal conduct policy.
While fan reaction toward Watson is mixed, most NFL insiders will say Watson is a top 10 quarterback. The Browns believe he’s top five, which is why they committed all that money to someone who came with more baggage than the cargo hold on 747 airplane.
Watson is still eligible to play in the preseason, and he should, considering he hasn’t seem game action since the end of the 2020 season. Jacoby Brissett will need reps, too, though, as he’s Watson’s replacement until the Clemson product is eligible to play.
Former first-round pick Josh Rosen was brought in to compete with Josh Dobbs for the third quarterback spot, as one of these players will need to back up Brissett. Not taking anything away from Dobbs, but at least Rosen has thrown a touchdown pass.
The rest of Cleveland’s roster really is talented, and with Watson under center, the Browns should be a contender. But can the team stay afloat while Watson’s sits?
Here’s a look at the Browns schedule after news of Watson’s suspension dropped.
Cleveland Browns Week 1: Win at Carolina
This game should scare fans of the Browns a little bit more now that Baker Mayfield is with the Panthers. Baker loves himself some revenge games. Ask Hue Jackson. That said, Baker doesn’t always ball out when there’s a nemesis on the other sideline.
Remember when Kliff Kingsbury and the Cardinals shellacked Baker and the Browns, 37-14 last October? Kingsbury was the coach who infamously did not offer Baker Mayfield a scholarship at Texas Tech. That led to Mayfield transferring to Oklahoma.
Looking at the big picture, the Browns are the better team. Kevin Stefanski NEEDS to win this game and SHOULD win this game. If he doesn’t, even without Watson, you can start checking the temperature of dreaded hot seat.
Cleveland Browns Week 2: Win vs Jets (2-0)
I’m still not a Zach Wilson believer yet. He completed just 56 percent of his passes as a rookie. New York is still rebuilding and the Browns supposedly have the players on defense who should force Wilson to have a difficult day.
All Brissett has to do in this one is mange the game, make a few throws on third down and keep the chains moving. Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt can do the rest, which should energize the home crowd.
Cleveland Browns Week 3: Win vs Steelers (3-0)
Week 3 sees the Browns and Steelers matchup on Thursday Night Football. If this were on the road, I’d be nervous. But at home, against a team whose fans are already calling for the benching of Mitch Trubisky in favor of rookie Kenny Pickett, you’ve got to like the Brown chances.
The Steelers still have T.J. Watt on defense, and unlike Myles Garrett so far, Watt has the ability to alter the outcome of game, especially in the fourth quarter. That said, the Browns have more weapon and should be victorious in this one, even if they have to win ugly.
Cleveland Browns Week 4: Win at Falcons (4-0)
Like the previous three opponents, the Browns should enter as the favorites because they have better roster. Atlanta’s best offensive weapon is a tight end (Kyle Pitts) and their quarterback, Marcus Mariota, is beatable.
They have first-round pick Drake London, which should draw some attention on the outside, but with the resources put into the cornerback position, Cleveland should neutralize whatever the Falcons attempt in the passing game.
Going 4-0 in this stretch would be huge for Cleveland. It’s entirely possible, but it will take a historic effort to get it done, as no Browns team has started 4-0 since 1979.
Getting these victories means Cleveland can drop the next two and still be in great shape when Watson returns.
Cleveland Browns Week 5: Loss vs Chargers
A hot start means the Browns can drop one, and while we all think they’ll cream the visiting Chargers, the Browns probably won’t have the firepower to keep up with Justin Herbert.
Perhaps the defense balls and limits the Chargers offensively–if they do, they’ll have to hold Herbert and company to 10-17 points. There’s just no scenario I envision in which Brissett can go to a shootout in this contest.
Losing stinks, but the Browns get their first L of the season.
Cleveland Browns Week 6: Loss vs Patriots
The final game before Deshaun Watson’s return…I’ve been playing the schedule prediction game and I’ve had the Browns winning this one, but at this moment, right now, I think I’ll give the edge to the Patriots.
Bill Belichick coached circles around Stefanski last season in Foxboro, and while this contest will be played on the lakefront, I worry about Brissett’s ability to rise up and knock off The Hoodie.
My guess…this one’s going to be close and Belichick will figure out how to win.
So, with Watson returning in Week 7 in a game at Baltimore, the Browns are 4-2. Not a bad spot to be for a team with playoff aspirations that had to play a backup for the first six weeks of the season.