HC Kevin Stefanski: Deshaun Watson 'excited' about Browns offense

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski sounds convinced a more normal offseason will do wonders for quarterback Deshaun Watson. 

"How we meet, how we structure practice, making sure he’s comfortable with different things," Stefanski said about getting on the same page with Watson this offseason, per Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. "So, you know, you talk about everything under the sun with players in an exit meeting, and certainly try to do the same with Deshaun. I know we’re seeing the game very similarly. I think he’s very excited about what we’re going to be doing offensively, what we’ll be doing as a team, and I think he’s excited to go play some football in the spring and summer." 

Watson didn't play for the Houston Texans during the 2021 campaign following an offseason trade request. While the Browns acquired him from Houston last March, his status throughout the spring and summer months remained in question due to allegations of sexual misconduct during massage sessions that hovered over him until his camp, the NFL and NFL Players Association agreed to an 11-game suspension. 

Watson earned three Pro Bowl nods during his Houston tenure but wasn't nearly as dynamic across his first six games with the Browns. The 27-year-old completed just 58.2% of his 170 passes for 1,102 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions. According to ESPN, his 38.3 total QBR would've ranked him 27th in that category among eligible players. 

As Josh Alper noted for PFT, Drew Petzing recently left his post as Browns quarterbacks coach to become the Arizona Cardinals' new offensive coordinator. Stefanski subsequently gave Cleveland OC Alex Van Pelt his team's quarterback coach duties for 2023. 

"AVP is a former quarterback, has done it, has coached a bunch of guys, coached a lot of good players," Stefanski said about that decision on Wednesday, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "(It) lends an instant credibility with AVP when you’re talking about the quarterback position." 

Stefanski had better get more right than wrong this year, because outlets such as The 33rd Team are already mentioning him as one head coach who could begin next season on the hot seat.