After the second Achilles injury to Deshaun Watson in three months, it’s entirely possible that he’ll miss most of, if not all of the 2025 season.
Even if he didn’t suffer a setback in his recovery, it’s also entirely possible the Browns would’ve moved forward with drafting a potential franchise quarterback at No. 2.
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Both Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward are expected to be viable NFL signal callers, and Watson hasn’t exactly performed up to standards after arriving in Cleveland.
Watson was sent from Houston via trade for a haul of draft capital and signed a $240 million, fully guaranteed contract with the Browns – and has been a huge disappointment, even when on the field.
It’s because of this that ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi predicts the Browns will indeed take a quarterback at No. 2.
2. Cleveland Browns (3-14)
“The Browns will have a first-round pick for the first time since 2021 and are picking in the top 10 just as they did from 2018 to 2020. Deshaun Watson’s struggles since coming to Cleveland, plus his latest season-ending injury, put quarterback back in the spotlight.
“But the team will also need to use its selections to replenish an aging roster, particularly in the trenches, that has regressed from its 11 wins in 2023.”
Further complicating matters is defensive end Myles Garrett, who publicly requested a trade because he doesn’t think the Browns are serious about winning.
The Browns have a potentially disastrous situation on their hands with Garrett, and they have to think about Watson’s future too.
Andrew Berry has the unenviable job of figuring it all out in a very short period of time.