Week 1 was a nightmare for the Cleveland Browns and their QB, Deshaun Watson, as they endured a brutal 33-17 loss to the visiting Dallas Cowboys. While the score might suggest a competitive game, the reality was far worse. Jerome Ford’s 2-yard rushing touchdown with just 29 seconds left against the Cowboys’ backups only served to make Cleveland’s Sunday debacle look slightly less embarrassing.
Deshaun Watson was at the heart of the Browns’ struggles. He completed just 169 passing yards, threw one touchdown—a short 6-yard pass to Jerry Jeudy—and was intercepted twice on deflected passes. The Cowboys relentlessly pressured Watson, sacking him six times and exposing the absence of both starting tackles, Jedrick Wills and Jack Conklin, who were sidelined with knee injuries. Facing a fierce Dallas pass rush led by Micah Parsons, who recorded an NFL-leading nine quarterback pressures and a sack, Watson never found his rhythm.
Deshaun Watson’s Week 1 Stats
The advanced stats from Watson’s performance make his tough day look even worse. Look at the historic lowlight for Watson: among the 1,752 instances of a quarterback attempting at least ten passes of 15 or more yards downfield, Watson became the only one to finish without a single completion. His passing numbers against Dallas were grim across the board, as he failed to connect on any deep throws and struggled heavily under pressure. He misfired on all 20 or more yards downfield attempts and completed only three passes for 10 yards when pressured. Watson’s issues continued when blitzed, managing just two completions for 13 yards while taking three sacks.
These dismal numbers are especially concerning, given Watson’s contract. Before the game, Watson held the record for the most guaranteed money in NFL history with his $230 million fully guaranteed contract. However, that record was broken hours before kickoff when the Cowboys extended Dak Prescott on a four-year, $240 million deal with $231 million guaranteed. Since the Browns traded for Watson and handed him this massive contract in March 2022, his performance has been among the worst in the league.
Given these facts, it’s worth considering whether Cleveland’s decision to acquire Watson and sign him to such a hefty contract is the worst transaction in NFL history. Assessing his acquisition cost, poor performance, and contract value could help determine if this move deserves that dubious distinction.
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Texans’ Roster Rebuild Using Watson Trade Picks
In the trade for Deshaun Watson, the Cleveland Browns sent six draft picks to the Houston Texans, including three first-rounders: a 2022 first-round pick (13th), a 2022 fourth-round pick (104th), a 2023 first-round pick (12th), a 2023 third-round pick (73rd), a 2024 first-round pick (23rd), and a 2024 fourth-round pick (123rd). The Texans used this draft capital strategically to reshape their roster.
They traded the 2022 first-round pick (13th) to the Eagles for the 15th pick, which they used on OL Kenyon Green, plus picks 124, 162, and 166. Houston later traded pick 124 to Cleveland to move up to 44th and selected WR John Metchie III. They moved pick 162 to the Broncos to get DL Christian Harris at 75th and traded 166 to the Bears for DL Thomas Booker at 150th. The Texans used Cleveland’s 2022 fourth-round pick (104th) on RB Dameon Pierce.
In 2023, they traded the Browns’ first-round pick (12th) and other picks to the Cardinals for the 3rd pick, drafting DE Will Anderson Jr., the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. They traded pick 105 to the Eagles for a 2024 third-rounder, later used on DB Calen Bullock. The 2023 third-round pick (73rd) was traded to the Rams to get WR Tank Dell. In 2024, they used Cleveland’s picks to acquire DB Kamari Lassiter, LB Jamal Hill, and TE Cade Stover and secured an extra 2025 second-rounder from the Vikings.
Browns Regret Watson Trade As Mayfield Shines With Buccaneers
Deshaun Watson earned three consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 2018 to 2020 with the Houston Texans, performing like a top-five quarterback. In 2020, he led the league with 4,823 passing yards, had a stellar 33-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio, and posted a 112.4 passer rating—second only to Aaron Rodgers. However, Watson’s career took a hit after facing 25 civil lawsuits for sexual misconduct beginning in March 2021. As a result, he sat out the 2021 season, demanded a trade, and later faced an 11-game suspension in 2022. Watson’s 2023 season he ended in Week 10 due to a shoulder injury requiring surgery.
Since joining the Cleveland Browns, Watson has struggled significantly. From 2022 to 2023, he ranked 41st in completion percentage (59.8%), 36th in yards per attempt (6.5), 31st in touchdown-to-interception ratio (14-9), and 37th in passer rating (81.7) among 45 quarterbacks with 300+ pass attempts. His deep ball efficiency dropped from 43% in Houston to 28% in Cleveland. Meanwhile, his predecessor, Baker Mayfield, is thriving with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 2023, Mayfield achieved career highs in completion percentage (64.3%), passing yards (4,044), and touchdowns (28), earning a three-year, $100 million extension. Mayfield threw four touchdowns in Week 1 of 2024 with a 146.4 passer rating. The Browns likely regret trading Mayfield, who now clearly outperforms Watson, the quarterback they replaced him with.
Also Read: Grading All 32 NFL Teams Starting Quarterbacks After Week 1 Games Of The 2024 Season
Deshaun Watson Becomes NFL’s Worst Trade Ever
The Cleveland Browns made a disastrous decision by signing Deshaun Watson to the first fully guaranteed quarterback contract in NFL history after he had sat out a season due to legal issues. The Browns felt pressured to offer Watson a five-year, $230 million deal, fully guaranteed because they were competing with the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons for him. Watson’s contract now includes a cap hit of $72.935 million in 2025 and 2026. Releasing him would incur massive financial penalties: a $99.799 million loss in 2025 and a $26.864 million loss in 2026. The Browns have no viable way out of this crippling deal.
This makes the Watson trade and re-signing the worst transaction in NFL history, surpassing even the Minnesota Vikings’ infamous Herschel Walker trade with the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys used the assets from that trade to build a dynasty. The Browns not only lost six draft picks, including three first-rounders, but they also face a dire salary cap situation in the coming years.
Beyond the financial and football failures, the deal has severely damaged the Browns’ reputation, making a player accused of sexual harassment the face of their franchise. The combination of lost draft capital, future salary cap issues, and reputational damage makes the Browns’ acquisition of Watson a catastrophic move that will hinder the franchise for years, cementing it as the worst personnel decision in NFL history.
