“You play because you love it, not because you can make money from it.” That line might echo through the locker room as the Browns face a crossroads with Deshaun Watson. From a QBR of 83.7 in the rookie season (2017) and a consistent 3800+ yards and 26+ touchdowns in three consecutive seasons, Watson’s production dropped to a QBR of 23.4 and a mere 5 TDs in 7 games in the 2024 season. His struggle is visible.

Signed to a fully guaranteed five-year, $230M deal in March 2022 (including a $44.965M signing bonus and an avg. of $46M per year through ’26), his saga has taken a nosedive with an Achilles tear in Oct ’24 and a re-rupture in Jan ’25.  Now, with his contract restructured in Dec ’24 (adding two voidable years through 2030 to ease cap woes), the Browns are staring down the barrel of a drastic decision.

Watson’s snaps

Ride out the rehab or plunge into a full multi-year rebuild. Hence, buying Watson’s deal in the NFL is like purchasing a Ferrari that’s permanently stuck in reverse. Cleveland restructured Watson’s deal in December, pushing $36M into future years. Now, cutting him before 2026 would leave $150M in dead money—enough to make Succession’s Logan Roy gasp. So, the Browns are stuck. They either ride out Watson’s “will-he-won’t-he” rehab saga or hit the nuclear button: a multi-year rebuild.

On his appearance on the Rich Eisen Show on Feb 20, Trevor Sikkema noted, “When I look at the Cleveland Browns, I think it’s a complete reset situation for them. I mean, look at everything that’s going on—Deshaun Watson’s contract, the Achilles injury, then the reinjury, and now you’ve got Myles Garrett reportedly demanding a trade. It almost feels like he’s played his last down as a Cleveland Brown.” Cue the Titanic soundtrack.

Now Watson’s number in recent seasons—6 games in ’22 (1,102 pass yds, 7 TD, 5 INT, 58.2% comp, 79.1 rating; 175 rush yds, 1 TD), 6 games in ’23 (1,115 pass yds, 7 TD, 4 INT, 61.4% comp, 84.3 rating; 142 rush yds, 1 TD), and 7 games in ’24 (1,148 pass yds, 5 TD, 3 INT, 63.4% comp, 79.0 rating; 148 rush yds, 1 TD)—offer a glimpse into a player injuries and off-field drama has marred whose on-field output.

Cut Watson before ’26 would trigger a whopping $150M in dead money. Hence, leaving the Browns no choice but to either endure his unpredictable rehab saga or break off and rebuild over multiple seasons. As every snap now feels like a cliffhanger. Watson’s injury history, paired with the financial constraints of his mammoth contract, forces the Browns into a dramatic narrative. With career numbers flaunting 17,904 passing yards, 123 TDs, and 48 INTs—Watson’s journey has been as thrilling as it has been tumultuous. But the question is, will they gamble on his full recovery? Or will this catalyze a rebuild?

Berry’s gambit: “Myles or bust”

Meanwhile, Berry’s playing 4D chess. Despite Garrett’s trade request—“While I’ve loved calling this city my home, my desire to win and compete on the biggest stages won’t allow me to be complacent. The goal was never to go from Cleveland to Canton. It has always been to compete for and win a Super Bowl. With that in mind, I have requested to be traded from the Cleveland Browns.” The GM’s stance is clearer than a LeBron chase-down block: “Hard no.”

Why? Garrett’s a one-man wrecking crew (102.5 career sacks, 2023 DPOY) on a team that just went 3-14. Trading him would be like selling your Tesla to buy a tricycle. “I’m trying to be better every single day,” Garrett says. It’s too bad that the Browns’ offense averaged 15.2 PPG last year—worse than a Seinfeld rerun ratings slump. But let’s get spicy.

During a mock draft chat, The Ringer’s Trevor Sikkema pitched the Browns taking Colorado two-way phenom Travis Hunter at No. 2: “If they move on from Garrett, they’re basically saying, ‘Alright, we’re tearing this thing down to the studs.’ That means a full multi-year rebuild. You trade Garrett, you get multiple first-round picks—because that’s what he’s worth…” Sikkema is right about that.

And his take on the No. 2 pick? “So when I look at that No. 2 pick, I think: don’t force a quarterback unless you’re absolutely sold on one,” added Trevor. But Berry ain’t biting. “We have no plans to trade him,” he told Mary Kay Cabot. Translation: Myles stays, even if Watson’s contract turns the Dawg Pound into a yard sale. Cleveland’s 2025 season hinges on two rehabbing stars. And a GM who’d rather eat a Lake Erie walleye than trade his best player. Imagine Groundhog Day colliding with Any Given Sunday—only without the happy ending.

As Berry said, “We do anticipate… a third contract with Myles.” Translation: In Deshaun Watson we (reluctantly) trust. In Garrett, we must. Because without him? The Browns aren’t just rebuilding—they’re reenacting The Revenant. Grab the bear spray.