The Cleveland Browns shocked the NFL world on Friday by acquiring controversial quarterback Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans. The trade came a day after Watson reportedly was not interested in joining the team. But he obviously changed his mind and waived his no-trade clause in order for Cleveland and Houston to workout a deal.
The affects from this trade will be felt around the league. Most notably, the Cincinnati Bengals will have to improve their roster if they want to keep up with Cleveland.
But Cleveland may have more than just winning the division on their minds next season. Here are three reasons why the trade makes the Browns Super Bowl contenders.
Impact on Nick Chubb
In 2021, opposing defensive coordinators strategized around containing running back Nick Chubb. They were willing to allow Baker Mayfield and the passing game try to beat them. Even with the added pressure, Chubb still rushed for over 1,200 yards to go along with 8 touchdowns. But adding a QB such as Watson opens up a new realm of possibilities for the star halfback.
Defenses will now need to focus on limiting both the pass and the run. Chubb should see more opportunities for daylight as defenses attempt to cover receivers down field and blitz Watson. As long as he can stay healthy, Nick Chubb is in store for a monster 2022 campaign.
Comfortability
This move provides both Watson and the Browns an element of comfortability.
Watson obviously has dealt with his share of off the field headlines over the past year. There were legitimate questions about his future in the league, and if he would ever play again. When people think of Watson in Houston, they won't remember the impressive statistics. Rather, there will always be a negative stigma about his time with the Texans. But he now has an opportunity for a fresh start. If he is able to stay out of trouble and lead the Browns to success, he may be able to slowly rebuild his reputation.
For Cleveland, they finally have a star at the position. The Browns have tried drafting and developing young quarterbacks for many years but the strategy has not paid off. Baker Mayfield was decent during his time in Cleveland but it became clear that he was not going to be the QB to lead the Browns to the promised land in 2021. Watson gives the Browns a chance to make the playoffs again after seeing postseason action two years ago.
Balance
The third and final reason is balance. The Browns already feature a top-tier defensive unit and an impressive running attack. They recently acquired wide receiver Amari Cooper from the Cowboys in an effort to begin the offensive rebuild. Pairing Cooper with Watson could lead to a potentially elite duo. They also still have Donovan Peoples-Jones as well. Other star wide receivers might begin to display interest in joining the team with Watson under center. Controversial wideout Antonio Brown already expressed his interest in heading to Cleveland through a couple of hilarious tweets.
There is a chance that Deshaun Watson is forced to miss time due to a potential suspension. Regardless, his presence in Cleveland should provide the Browns with an opportunity to make a deep postseason run in 2022-2023. The Browns now have a realistic chance of making it to the Super Bowl.
Follow Us
Subscribe