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Good point.

People tend to look at the dollar amount but don't consider what we would be paying if we had someone else. Unless we plan on constantly playing someone on a rookie deal, QB is always going to be expensive. Just look around at some of the QB contracts signed over the last several years.

On paper, I agree that Watson hasn't been worth the expense. The reason is largely due to a suspension that was longer than most anticipated and an injury last year.
We knew a suspension was going to happen, we didn't know an injury was going to happen.

Not to try to be confusing but it's a misconception that you have to pay a QB a similar salary to be a Super Bowl contender. I won't argue the fact that QB salaries are sky high but paying that money means nothing without the performance. If you are satisfied with just being a contender (meaning making the playoffs), then your argument is baseless because 14 teams make that level every year and their QB's don't all make 46M per season and the Browns were already a capable team prior to Watson. In fact, one could argue that the 2-years prior to Watson was better than the cumulative record the Browns have had since Watson arrived.

The acquisition though was based upon the fact that the next level, AFC Championship/Super Bowl, could not be achieved unless the Browns had a top 5 elite QB. Over the last 4-years though, SFO would argue that they haven't paid elite QB salaries to make the final four 3 of the 4 years. That aside, 8 teams paying elite QB salaries like DAL, MIN, DEN, NOS, LAC, LVR, CLE, and ARI have failed to make it to the final 4 the last 4-years but have paid elite costs more than half of that time to no avail. One could safely argue if you took those 8-elite QB's plus the 8 elite that made it to the final 4 the last 4 years (16 total), you could argue that Watson has been the poorest performer of the group not much better or worse than Wilson or Carr. Add in new elite pay QB now in Lawrence, and that makes 17 total elite pay QB's on the NFL stage - more than 1/2 with 9 of those teams not making the final four the last 4 years much less the Super Bowl.

The issue with Watson's contract is he is being charged to the team 66.77M for the 2024 season. That's 4M more than any other team in the NFL for 2024. In actual contract cost, only Burrows and Herbert are scheduled to make more and at this point and time - does Watson's performance over the last 4 years equate the cost to be making more than Mahomes, Allen, Jackson, Cousins, or even Goff?

I'm not saying that Watson cannot do it. What I am saying is he hasn't in 4-years (2 with the Browns). Watson being the 28th rated QB over the last 2 years is not getting the performance you're paying for. Watson making it to the playoffs with a winning record but not elite and no final four is no better than a Prescott, Carr, Wilson, Cousins, or the others. Is this what the Browns are paying for because we already had that type of QB and cheaper. If that's the going rate and you're going to pay - without excuse, then we should see the elite play which as of today we haven't seen anything close to elite out of Watson in a Browns uniform or since 2020.

What gets my goat is the lowering of expectations as long as we win, win what? The AFC North - nope never. AFC Championship - nope. Super Bowl - nope never. Elite cost - yeppers. Elite play - not even close! Accountability - lowering the bar.

Exactly What happened the last 2 years is history. What will happen the next 3 is a matter of conjecture and remains to be seen. I’ll hope for the best from DW as always.

Watson needs to play well enough to WIN..!

I don't think people are lowering the bar. The bar guidelines differ between fans.

And I think this is why the debate exists, continues and is ongoing. Do the Browns have a SB QB? Until that question is answered one way or the other nobody knows. At this point in time all we know is that's what they're paying for but thus far haven't gotten that.

And I know that's because of a suspension and an injury one of which was preventable. But the bottom line is that watson is 40% of the way through his contract and as to his contributions they have been very limited thus far.

I'm certainly not trying to predict what the future holds but the only known is where we are at this point in time. I understand the fans desire to try and uphold watson and as such either hope for or proclaim a bright future. I also understand that some are more pragmatic and are looking at the progress report as to where the Browns stand now at the QB position.

You are correct. Some fans believe if he plays below the level of what he's being compensated for and the draft capital given up that's just fine.

As you yourself stated.....
Some expect him to play to that level and some don't. That sounds a lot like some are lowering the bar to me.

I agree. History is history. You can't change it or dwell on it, all you can look at is the here and now.

Some of us refer to the present tense as a progress report of where the Browns stand at the present time. It certainly does not predict the future.

Understood. Nobody can predict the future. If so, we would all be in the sports book betting the ponies and betting the games, and that would just be the short term things we would be doing.

If he can simply improve to the point where he is scoring more for us than the opponent AND stops being the #1 thing that was holding the offense back while he was playing, that will be enough.

Eh, it's an offseason article so it's real main purpose is to generate traffic and discussion, but: "The Browns didn't need to take a flier on another wide receiver with some slot capacity given Elijah Moore and David Bell are still on the roster with No. 1 Amari Cooper. "

Clearly, the author thinks more of Elijah Moore and David Bell than our FO, because our FO looked at the same two guys and thought "yeah, it is totally worth it to burn two bottom-of-the-Draft picks to give this other guy a chance here".
Bell was drafted by us in '22 and didn't catch a TD in the NFL until Dec. '23 against JAX.
Elijah Moore damn near didn't show up until Week 17 of the '23 season, and "showing up" amounted to only 61 yards - as the #2 WR.


I think it is another one of this FO's annual gambles on talent that hasn't thrived or has been overlooked (usually for health reasons), and for the cost, it is a fairly decent gamble because if it pays off and he stays healthy, then we've theoretically improved significantly. If he continues to not stay healthy, then we haven't lost all that much.

I can't disagree with what you're saying, and I didn't write the article However, I'm reserved about the move because it was only 12 months ago that we heard the exact same crap about Moore, and it didn't come close to working as predicted. Now with Cooper holding out, these bargain deals as everyone wants to call them better work out if Cooper takes a hard stand.

I root for any Brown but in two years David Bell has one TD and his MO seems to be, catch a short pass after the QB has gone through his reads and can’t find anyone open, throws it to Bell, who gets taken to the ground immediately. Can’t seem to get separation.

Maybe Ken Dorsey can utilize David better. Could be that's why KD was hired; new ideas new schemes.

David Bell doesn’t look the part of an nfl WR. I wouldn’t be surprise if he doesn’t make the roster.

Tillman will get two years. Hopefully we get lucky and he makes a jump this year. His rookie year was pretty underwhelming.

No doubt Tillman gets 2 years. It may even be 2 more years. I agree on Bell. He is just a guy. He can easily be replaced. Maybe by Thrash.

Perhaps why we are keeping Cade York around.....as draft capital when a starter goes down to trade.

That said it could be insurance for ourselves.

167 million guaranteed.

Tua Tagovailoa contract: Dolphins, QB reach four-year, $212.4 million extension with $167 million guaranteed

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/...-extension-with-167-million-guaranteed/?

Hot take:

He won't play more than two more seasons, ie... two more major concussions.

Well we shall see if he lasted that long over in his new deal.

No doubt for both reasons. No matter what I think we will keep a kicker on the PS. Having to scramble around working out kickers a few days before the game isn't a good situation.

Guys on the PS are already members of the team. The trust has been established.

Watson contract was updated to be 4 years 184 million.

Seems like a bargain now.

I think with the new weight room and them adopting high school training techniques from the ‘70s, Watson should get it turned around this year.

That's funny...LOL

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id...sacks-leader-samson-ebukam-torn-achilles

Source: Colts lose '23 sacks leader Samson Ebukam to torn Achilles

Besides pointing out that all NFL FO's miss on first round draft picks, other than your personal agenda, was there anything else?

And Wirfs was a RT his whole career until a season or so ago.

"Tackles are tackles"

Wirfs was also a right tackle...