Is signing Deshaun Watson really worth it for the Browns?

It’s been coming for a while. But finally, Deshaun Watson is no longer a Houston Texan.

In another blockbuster trade to hit the NFL, the former twelfth overall pick joined the Cleveland Browns in an astonishing twist.

After it seemed that Watson would be joining either the Atlanta Falcons or the New Orleans Saints, the Browns made their move to grab the former Clemson QB on Friday, despite it being reported earlier in the week that they were out of the running.

Watson’s change of heart has solved the quarterback position in Cleveland, which had looked increasingly uncertain in recent weeks.

The back-and-forth messaging over commitment to Baker Mayfield had been confusing and the breakup between the two parties was starting to get ugly.

Now, that just seems like an inconvenience on the side.

Controversy runs deep in trade for Watson

Signing one of the best quarterbacks in the league in Watson is a huge coup for the Browns. But this is not just about what he brings to the field.

Watson arrives in Cleveland with some serious baggage, with his credibility off the pitch ruined over the past 12 months.

Despite a grand jury recently declining to indict Watson over 22 allegations of sexual assault and harassment, the star quarterback still faces civil lawsuits.

There is also a good probability that the NFL will fine Watson for misconduct. This could lead to a suspension of anywhere between six and ten games.

The Browns cannot afford a setback of having Watson absent for games in 2022, given how inconsistent their play at quarterback has been in recent years.

It’s possible that he 26-year-old will be absolved of everything. The civil suits may prove his innocence.

But he arrives with a lot of negative press still circling.

The Browns are prepared to make Watson a football hero like any other quarterback. Yet, we should not let the controversial circumstances of the move be ignored.

Unfortunately, it seems the Browns are an NFL team in the business just to win football games, not to take moral stands.

Will he be worth it?

There is no doubt that in footballing terms, Watson is a phenomenal player.

A three-time bowler and now one of the highest paid players in the NFL, Watson is an elite dual threat quarterback with excellent production and accuracy in the air.

He was arguably one of the best quarterback in 2020 and many from across the league still consider him a top-5 quarterback.

The Browns are paying a huge price for their man. The deal will include three first round picks, a third-rounder and one in the fifth going to Houston. Plus, Watson will receive a five-year, $230m guaranteed contract, according to NFL.com.

The deal will break the record for the most money guaranteed ever in a contract, per Jake Trotter.

For a player who hasn’t thrown an NFL pass in over a year, that’s a huge purse.

Of course, signing a top quarterback can do wonders to any franchise looking to compete.

You only have to look at the impact Matthew Stafford has had on the LA Rams, taking them to a Super Bowl victory at the first attempt last season.

But the Browns issues run deeper than just at quarterback, as we outlined in a recent article.

They should improve in 2022, but there are still a lot of things they need to address.

And for Watson, he may change the fortunes of his new team with ball in hand. I think he’ll be worth from a footballing point of view, even with the Browns sacrificing a lot of draft capital to get him.

But let’s be clear, this is a trade the neutral should not be celebrating.