Like Joe Flacco, Jameis Winston did what Deshaun Watson couldn't do for the Browns. Watson's absence again led to the return of an effective passing attack. Winston threw for 334 yards and three touchdowns, including the go-ahead score with 59 seconds left, in Cleveland's 29-24 comeback win over Baltimore on Sunday.
Watson hasn't thrown for 300 yards in any of his 19 starts with the Browns. He didn't even surpass 200 yards in any game this year before a torn Achilles tendon ended his season. Flacco had at least 300 yards passing in five of his six starts for Cleveland last year, including the playoffs.
Eventually, the Browns (2-6) have to make a decision that's difficult due to circumstances but obvious to the eye test. The blockbuster trade for Watson in 2022 is among the worst in NFL history. Giving him an unprecedented, fully guaranteed $230 million, five-year contract was even worse.
With Watson, the Browns are 9-10. Without him, coach Kevin Stefanski is 30-26 overall and twice has been named AP NFL Coach of the Year. He was 11-5 with Baker Mayfield in 2020 and went 4-1 down the stretch with Flacco last season.
There are nine games remaining for Winston to prove what he can do under Stefanski. Watson is owed $46 million for each of the next two seasons. No team would trade for him, so the Browns would have to bench him or cut him.
Releasing Watson after this season would cost the team $99.8 million in dead cap money, so that scenario is unlikely. Even waiting for June 1 w.