Browns GM expects big year from Deshaun Watson

Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson sat out the entire 2021 season amid sexual assault allegations and was ultimately suspended by the NFL for the first 11 games of the 2022 season. 

By the time Watson saw the field last year, he was rusty and one of the worst quarterbacks in the league. Watson completed just 58.2 percent of his passes for 1,102 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions. Watson's ESPN QBR of 38.3 ranked 27th in the league.

As bad as Watson was in 2022, Browns GM Andrew Berry has faith in Watson as training camp gets underway. 

Berry believes Watson is "in a really good place."

They'll need Watson to be really good if the Browns are to have any chance of moving up the AFC North pecking order a year after they were 7-10 and in last place in the division. 

"I think this is going to be a big year for him, professionally and personally," Berry said, per ESPN. "We think he's in great shape physically. He's been really good on the field. And I love what he's done off the field. So very excited about him."

The Browns invested an insane amount of capital in Watson by giving him an absurd $230 million fully guaranteed contract. That's the kind of money that indicates Cleveland feels they can get to a Super Bowl with Watson as their QB.

One thing in Watson's favor may be time. Now with a year of familiarity under his belt, Watson says it allows him to play a little bit faster when he's on the field.

"Having an opportunity to go into the season with a full offseason, locked in, focused, it definitely feels good," Watson said. "I want to continue to keep channeling and cherishing all that energy and positive energy that’s been spread around this organization."

The Browns and Watson may have confidence in themselves, but oddsmakers do not. Per OddsChecker, the Browns have the third-best odds of winning the AFC North at +400. 

Watson and the Browns will need all the luck they can get this season. Being in a division that has two All-Pro quarterbacks in the Bengals' Joe Burrow and the Ravens' Lamar Jackson isn't easy. Watson was brought in to keep pace with Burrow and Jackson, but Watson being an elite NFL quarterback and the NFL passing leader in 2020 seems like a long time ago.

Cleveland and Watson shouldn't be counted out, but shouldn't be counted on either.