Browns QB Deshaun Watson reveals feelings on C.J. Stroud’s success with Texans
Following a messy divorce with the Houston Texans, quarterback Deshaun Watson has found a home with the Cleveland Browns. However, how does he feel watching rookie C.J. Stroud, essentially his replacement, thrive with his former team?
On Watson’s podcast, “QB Unplugged,” after being pressed on the subject by guest and former MVP Cam Newton, he said not only did he not feel any bitterness toward Stroud, but he practically gave him the keys to the city.
“From day one, I’ve always been like — right when he got drafted, ‘Take over H-Town, it’s your city now,'” Watson said. “I’ve always been that big bro, you know what I’m saying? In the distance.”
It’s an oddly worded response from Watson, who presents Stroud taking over his old spot as if it were simply a changing of the guard. When in reality, a trade request and allegations of sexual misconduct resulting in an 11-game suspension and mandatory counseling led to his exit.
Meanwhile, Watson said, “Business is business” when describing his breakup with the Texans, which is a vast understatement.
Nevertheless, Watson’s thoughts on Stroud appear genuine, even if he smiled ear-to-ear as if he were nervously trying to avoid saying the wrong thing. He revealed that the two trained together in the past while also sharing the same agent, so it’s not hard to believe he’s at least somewhat happy for the first-year player’s emergence.
Furthermore, Watson also seemed to identify with the pressure and emotions Stroud is going through now, pointing out that he, too, won a wild-card game in Houston.
While the past and his competitive nature might have him feeling some kind of way about the Texans and Stroud, it doesn’t appear malicious. After all, he made out OK in the end, signing a five-year, $230 million contract with a Browns team that was seemingly on an upward trajectory this season before he went down with a season-ending shoulder injury.
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PFF Suggests Falcons Should Pursue Browns’ $11.7 Million Star
Following a 45-14 loss to the Houston Texans to kick off the NFL Playoffs, the Cleveland Browns are now in offseason mode. And executive VP of football operations and general manager Andrew Berry certainly has his work cut out for him.
Not only do the Browns face significant salary-cap concerns, but they’ve also got 26 pending free agents, one of the most notable names being three-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Za’Darius Smith, who Cleveland acquired last May in a surprise trade with the Minnesota Vikings.
Despite not putting up the numbers he has in the past, Smith could still fetch a pretty penny in free agency, and the Browns may not be able to afford his services, given their financial issues.
As such, if the Browns opt not to bring Smith back to play opposite Myles Garrett, Pro Football Focus believes the Atlanta Falcons should pursue the 31-year-old with this assessment:
“The Falcons struggled to generate much pressure off the edge in 2023, and while they will be encouraged by Arnold Ebiketie’s development in his second NFL season, a veteran presence would be a wise addition. Smith has earned an 84.0 PFF pass-rushing grade or better in each of his past four seasons with at least 100 pass-rushing snaps.”
The Falcons haven’t really had a dominant pass rusher since John Abraham left town following the 2013 season, so signing Smith to a short-term deal could be worth it. And Atlanta is in a far better position than Cleveland to make a run at him.
The Falcons Have a Much Better Salary-Cap Situation Than the Browns
Heading into the 2024 NFL offseason, Spotrac projects the Browns to be $13.86 million over the salary cap.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson, of course, is the major factor there, as his cap hit for the 2024 season is $63.977 million, the largest in league history. But he’s certainly not Cleveland’s only high-paid player, as Amari Cooper, Denzel Ward, and Myles Garrett have a combined cap hit of $67.39 million.
