With a season that hasn’t offered a lot of excitement, Cleveland Browns fans finally have a silver lining. In what was a busy off-season for the franchise, they saw an exit of their former overall number 1 pick Baker Mayfield. While they offloaded their star quarterback, they made room for another big personality to enter the Browns’ camp. Deshaun Watson was traded from the Texans for the job.

However, in a controversial beginning with his new team, Watson found himself suspended for a major chunk of his first season with the Cleaveland team. After serving his punishment, Watson’s availability for contention comes as a big boost for Browns fans.

Deshaun Watson gets a boost in his scarred career

Deshaun Watson is one of the best quarterbacks in the league. He led his college outfit Clemson to a National Championship. His performance in college earned him a first-round pick by the Texans.

The 27-year-old quarterback has been impressive even in his brief four-year NFL journey. He has racked quite the numbers as his pass completion stands at 70% overall. He has thrown over a hundred touchdowns and been intercepted only 36 times. 

Unfortunately, the Texans’ star landed himself in trouble just as he was touching his peak. An off-field series of events saw him suffer a hefty penalty. He wasn’t available for the 2021 season for the Texans. Post an agreement with NFLPA, he was suspended for 11 games in the 2022 season. He even had to pay a $5 million fine for allegations against him of sexual misconduct. 

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Post serving his penalty, which even kept him off bounds from his new franchise’s facility, Watson was finally available to participate. With limited team activity over the last month, Watson will be eligible to practice with his squad starting Monday. However, he won’t get to see the game field until December 4. His winning mentality will be a big boost for the team as he begins spending time with his teammates after his forced exile. 

The quarter-billion-dollar contract

Deshaun Watson was roped in by the Browns in a blockbuster deal. The deal saw Watson coming into Cleaveland along with a 6th-round draft pick for the Browns in 2024. While the Texans benefited with overall 5 draft picks over the course of the next few seasons.

The Browns broke the bank for this dynamic quarterback. Putting pen to paper on a five-year deal, Watson is to make $230 million over his five years with the Browns.

He also got a $45 million signing bonus, while the hefty amount on his contract remains guaranteed. This contract puts him in a pole position for the biggest contract across the league. The next best contract currently is still almost $70 million short of his, with Russell Wilson making $165 million at Denver.

Deshaun Watson will look to take the ground running when he dons the Browns‘ threads for the first time. Browns faithful will hope their team wins their next few games so they can have a postseason. Deshaun Watson will be a huge asset for them if and when they are able to secure that spot. However, for now, they will have to make the most of him on the training ground as they aim to bounce back from 3-5.

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