

The Cleveland Browns have historically been a franchise plagued by mistakes that have prevented them from achieving long-term success in the NFL. Even when they’ve made good decisions, they’ve often done everything possible to let those successes slip away.
The Browns’ most recent mistake was discarding Baker Mayfield, their first overall pick in the 2018 Draft. In 2020, he had a great season that led to the franchise’s first playoff win in 26 years. Yet, in 2021, they sent him to the Carolina Panthers.
That’s when the Browns made their big blunder: Baker Mayfield was gone, and the franchise handed Deshaun Watson a fully guaranteed $230 million contract – a deal that has turned out to be a true failure, and it seems there’s no going back.
Watson has played just 19 games over his three years with the Browns, 13 of which came in the last two seasons. His 2023 campaign was affected by a shoulder injury, and this past season, a torn Achilles tendon sidelined him after only seven games.
Retirement isn’t in Deshaun Watson’s plans
In January of this year, while recovering, Watson re-injured his Achilles tendon, complicating his chances of being ready for the upcoming season. This has sparked speculation about his retirement – but that’s not something on the mind of the former Clemson star.
Reaction to Shadeur Sanders drop in the Draft
Despite the ups and downs of his NFL career, Watson’s mentality remains strong. According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, retirement seems very unlikely for him.
“He’s determined to come back and play. He might have to do it with another team, but he certainly doesn’t feel like he’s near the end,” Cabot said. “He’s progressing well in his rehab after the Achilles tear, and he hasn’t even been ruled out for this season – although he probably won’t return to the field this year, at least not here.”
Whether he plays or not, the Cleveland Browns will have to pay every last dollar of his contract, as the reporter noted:
“But he will collect his full $230 million from the Browns, whether or not he ever plays for them again, and he will not retire before the contract expires,” Cabot emphasized.
From Deshaun Watsons latest Instagram post. pic.twitter.com/cGpaieN3Ar
? Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show (@ultCLEsports) May 20, 2025
The reality is that despite his strong recovery efforts, it’s unlikely we’ll see Deshaun Watson wearing a Cleveland Browns uniform next season. However, given the talent he once displayed in the NFL with the Houston Texans, he may still get an opportunity with another team once the season is underway.
This news was originally published on this post .
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