How Deshaun Watson concerns resulted in Browns' offseason changes

Cleveland Browns insider Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland/The Land on Demand explained in a piece published Sunday night how the club making multiple offseason coaching changes, such as replacing offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt with Ken Dorsey, is related to concerns had about quarterback Deshaun Watson. 

Grossi reported that "insiders believe ownership was not happy with the progress of Watson in two seasons under" head coach Kevin Stefanski. 

"Although Stefanski spent numerous hours working with Watson and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt in a springtime 'laboratory' to tailor the offense to his skill set, the results did not bring back Watson’s former game," Grossi said.

The Browns sent three first-round draft picks and other assets to the Houston Texans in March 2022 to replace Baker Mayfield with Watson, and Cleveland then signed Watson to a historic fully guaranteed five-year, $230M contract. Watson missed 11 regular-season games during his first campaign with the Browns while serving a suspension related to accusations of sexual misconduct during massage sessions, and he then appeared in just six contests this past season before he was shut down in November because of a shoulder injury.

Across his six appearances during the 2023 campaign, Watson completed 61.4% of 171 pass attempts for 1,115 yards with seven touchdowns and four interceptions. Perhaps most worrisome as it pertains to what Watson may or may not be at this point of his career, 39-year-old Joe Flacco largely outperformed Cleveland's Week 1 QB1 en route to guiding the Browns to a playoff berth and earning Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year honors.

"Van Pelt was fingered as an old-guard coach not adept at maximizing the skills of a modern dual-threat quarterback," Grossi noted. Grossi also pointed out that "Dorsey’s work with dual-threat quarterbacks Cam Newton (with the Carolina Panthers) and Josh Allen (of the Buffalo Bills) was cited by Stefanski in the team’s announcement" of the hiring. 

While some seemingly believe the Browns could make Watson available to other clubs this offseason, general manager Andrew Berry has not yet publicly hinted he'll shop the three-time Pro Bowl selection after Cleveland hired a coordinator with Watson in mind. 

With that said, Watson could spend this coming fall playing for his Browns tenure beyond the 2024 season.