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After missing out on a playoff seat in 2021, the Cleveland Browns knew that they needed to make adjustments to their roster in order to bounce back next season. They decided to do so recently as they engaged in a blockbuster deal and traded for QB Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans in exchange for a bevy of draft assets.
This now changes the complexion of their 2022 campaign, especially in a stacked AFC competition next season. Their acquisition of the three-time Pro Bowler will definitely help the Browns in their bid to compete with their division rivals led by the Cincinnati Bengals that went all the way to the Super Bowl last season.
The team still has to do many things in order to be a clear-cut favorite in their division but landing a more talented quarterback is surely a step in the right direction as they aim to sit atop the AFC North in 2022.
With that said, let's take a look at two reasons why the Watson trade has now pushed the Browns ahead of the Bengals next season.
Deshaun Watson trade to Browns is perfect
2. A proven quarterback will now get to lead a talented team.
Ever since he was drafted in 2017, Deshaun Watson never got to handle a team that is almost complete on both sides of the ball. Yes, he played with players like DeAndre Hopkins and J.J. Watt during his early years with the Texans but that's about it. Despite the lack of talent on his side, Watson still managed to lead Houston to two consecutive playoff appearances from 2018 to 2019.
Heading to the 2022 season, the 26-year-old quarterback is set to join a Browns side that is considered as one of the deepest rosters in the entire league. They already have a new WR1 in Amari Cooper as well as a potent running back duo in Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. The Browns also have talented players on the defensive end with the likes of Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward, and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.
At the same time for Cleveland, the team has never had a premier quarterback who can maximize the amount of talent that they have over the past few years. Baker Mayfield has done a decent job but his level of performance is certainly not enough if the Browns want to make a deeper run in the playoffs moving forward.
With Watson's help, the Browns can now match up with a team like the Bengals, given that they have more depth in key position groups. Yes, Cincinnati also has a solid roster but their ability to perform mostly depends on the effectiveness of Joe Burrow in the pocket. Minus their QB, they aren't as complete as the Browns are on both sides of the ball. Having Watson under center alongside the numerous weapons that they have on the field will surely elevate the Browns and help them gain a significant advantage over the Bengals next season.
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1. Deshaun Watson is a clear upgrade over Baker Mayfield.
Deshaun Watson has been a proven talent in the league ever since he was been drafted back in 2017. Given his two-way style of play, he will be giving the Browns much-needed stability in both the passing and running game for the years to come. Only playing at the age of 26, Watson still hasn't reached his prime and will only get better as his career progresses.
Mayfield, on the other hand, has already been at the helm since he was taken 1st overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. He deserves credit for helping the Browns end their longstanding playoff drought and win a postseason game in the 2020 season. However, Mayfield has shown inconsistencies in his game in 2021. Injuries have affected his level of play which proved to the Browns that they need to pursue an upgrade at QB once an opportunity will present itself in the offseason, which recently did with Watson.
As of the moment, there are going to be repercussions with the acquisition of the three-time Pro Bowler since the NFL has yet to decide on the quarterback's playing status, given his legal concerns during his previous stint with the Texans. Being suspended for some games in the 2022 season is very much a possibility but the Browns will certainly take it in exchange for stability at their QB position for the years to come.
Still, Watson is a talent that is worth the risk for any team that is aiming to maximize the talent that they have and finally get over the hump as soon as possible. No one knows how the Georgia product will perform on the field in 2022, especially after missing action last season. However, the only certainty that the Browns have for now is that Deshaun Watson is a definite upgrade over Baker Mayfield in the QB position.
Looking at the AFC North, Joe Burrow is definitely a special talent who has already proven his capabilities to carry a team all the way to the Super Bowl. Though Watson hasn't played for a year, he remains to be one of the top QBs in the league and can outwit a young player like Burrow on the field, given his level of experience.
After the trade, Deshaun Watson can surely give Cleveland the biggest opportunity to make a deep run in the postseason and help them live up to the expectations that everyone had for the Browns over the past few years.
