Deshaun Watson’s situation in Cleveland is getting harder to ignore. Injuries, drama, and a contract that’s looking worse by the day have left the Browns in a tough spot. Because, let’s be real, ever since he signed that five-year $230 million contract, the guy just appeared in 19 games. Courtesy? Some off-field drama and an Achilles tear in the last season.

To top that off, he underwent surgery after suffering a re-rupture of his right Achilles tendon earlier this year. The result? He’s probably set to miss the 2025 season as well. And now? Well, on one side, the Browns are hunting for his replacement. They signed Kenny Pickett and might draft a quarterback in April as well. As for Watson, let’s just say that the guy’s recovering with a strong mentality.

On Tuesday, Watson took to his official ‘X’ handle and shared a couple of iconic quotes in his IG story. “The mindset isn’t about seeking a result—it’s more about the process of getting to that result. It’s about the journey and the approach. It’s a way of life. I do think that it’s important, in all endeavors, to have that mentality.” Watson shared the quote in his story that aligns with Late Kobe Bryant‘s philosophy on the “Mamba Mentality.”

Well, Watson has a well-documented admiration for Kobe. The guy had an hour-long meeting with the NBA legend back in August 2019. And let’s just say it transformed the QB’s life. During their meeting, they talked about life. They talked finance. And, of course, they kept talking about Mamba Mentality. “His mindset, the way he thinks, it changes everything,” Watson said about Kobe.

Safe to say, that meeting wasn’t a casual chat for Watson—it shaped how he sees the game and life. And if you’re thinking that Deshaun Watson is done here—well, not just yet. “Success is no Accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing,” he shared the quote, attributed to Pele.

And let’s be real—Watson’s career has definitely been shaped by hard work and sacrifice. And his recent seasons? His recent struggles have only added to his resolve. And we just need to see how he bounces back after recovering from his injury. After all, the Browns are kind of regretting his massive contract at this point.

Deshaun Watson’s contract is a big miss for the Browns

When the Cleveland Browns traded for Watson back in 2022, they surely thought that the QB would pull out some heroics like he did with the Texans. But nope. At first, some off-field drama led to his suspension in the first season with the Browns. And then his injuries kept him off the field. The result? Just 19 games in the last three seasons, with the fourth season hanging by a thread.

No wonder the Browns’ owner, Jimmy Haslam, believes that Watson’s contract was a “big swing-and-miss.” Yeah, you read that right. On Monday, at the league’s annual meeting, Haslam addressed the QB’s trade and stated, “We took a big swing-and-miss with Deshaun. We thought we had the quarterback; we didn’t. And we gave up a lot of draft picks to get him, so we’ve got to dig ourselves out of that hole.”

Cleveland acquired Watson from the Texans back in 2022 in exchange for three first-round picks. Also, to make it more interesting, the team then signed him to a massive $230 million, fully guaranteed. Fast forward to now, and the franchise is struggling to find a franchise QB for the team. They are expected to draft a QB with the No. 2 overall pick in hand, no doubt. But one thing’s for sure: Deshaun Watson’s future is hanging by a thread.