With training camp approaching, many around the league believe that Deshaun Watson will take the Browns' QB1 job. However, despite that expectation, one analyst has identified a glaring flaw in Watson's game.

“The last we saw of Watson two years ago was a player who had continued to struggle to regain his footing. Indeed, he posted a 63.4 PFF passing grade with eight big-time throws and five turnover-worthy plays across 270 dropbacks that season,” PFF NFL analyst Bradley Locker wrote.

The last time Watson stepped onto the field was in 2024, when he started seven games before a torn Achilles cut his season short.

Before the injury, he completed 63.4% of his passes for 1,148 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions. While those numbers were solid, he was also sacked 33 times.

In his July 10 report, PFF NFL analyst Bradley Locker argued that, despite being the preferred QB1 candidate, Watson has continued to struggle whenever he's been on the field, and if that continues, Monken would most likely move on from him.

“If the former star [Deshaun Watson] doesn’t at least produce average results in Todd Monken’s scheme, his leash could be short — and it will prompt serious doubt about his future as an NFL starter,” wrote Locker.

While there have been some positive reports from the Browns' minicamp, Watson's numbers tell a different story. Since November 2023, Watson has not completed a season playing more than seven games.

While there are worries about his performance, another analyst believes he might not even finish this season.

Analyst believes Deshaun Watson won't survive the full NFL season

Cleveland.com NFL insider Mary Kay Cabot, in a recent episode of the Orange and Brown Talk podcast, had revealed that she witnessed Watson struggling a bit with his throws during minicamp, raising concerns about his health.

Reacting to Cabot's observations, Mike Lucas said on the Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show that Watson might not even finish the season.

“And you add all that together, and I’m thinking to myself, saying, ‘There’s not a chance in hell this guy is going to be healthy enough to survive an entire season, rather less, maybe one or two games of an NFL season, if that’s the outcome,” said Lucas on July 9.

The local analyst highlighted that Watson has been plagued by injuries since joining the Browns. He has suffered two Achilles tears, one ACL tear, and one shoulder injury over the past six years. He has not played a full season since 2022.

Since arriving in Cleveland in 2022, Watson has been plagued by injuries, playing just 19 of the Browns' 68 games.

Lucas highlighted that despite the optimism surrounding his comeback, there's a strong chance he might not stay healthy all season.

Given that, what is your opinion on Deshaun Watson?

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Written by

Suryakant Das

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit