It's time for Browns to bench QB Deshaun Watson, but they won't

The Cleveland Browns (1-4) are closer to the No. 1 overall draft pick than they are the playoffs five weeks into the 2024 season.

The Browns' 34-13 loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 5 supports the idea that that could happen, too.

Deshaun Watson had yet another poor showing, completing 15 of 28 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown. He finished with a QBR of 8.5, the fourth single-digit QBR game of the season by any quarterback and second by Watson, per Seth Walder of ESPN.

That has led many to make the argument that it's time for Cleveland to bench Watson, and rightfully so.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski said after the game that that isn't going to happen, though.

"We're not changing quarterbacks," Stefanski said, via Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. "We need to play better. I need to coach better."

It's clear the Browns are not ready to admit that their decision to trade a king's ransom for Watson in March 2022 was terrible. The deal with Houston included three first-round picks. Then Cleveland signed Watson to a five-year, $230M fully guaranteed contract.

However, the sooner Cleveland does that, the sooner it can begin to make the necessary changes to get back to playing winning football, which is something even Watson recognized he isn't doing.

"The offense is going to go as far as I go," Watson said. "So, at the end of the day, we're not doing enough offensively. As a quarterback, you take all the pressure. You take all the heat. You take all the blame. I've got to find ways to bring everybody else along with each other, [find out] how we can go out here on Sundays and eliminate all the mistakes that are going to cause us to get behind the eight ball and put ourselves in situations that we don't want to be in."

The Browns gained just 212 yards and were 1-of-13 on third down as they lost their third straight game Sunday.

Backup quarterback Jameis Winston replaced Watson, but it seems as though it was only because the game was out of hand at that point.

Cleveland's 1-4 start is the worst since Stefanski became head coach in 2020, but it doesn't look like he's ready to make any changes.

"This is not a one-person issue on offense," Stefanski added. "We have the guys. We have the coaches. We will get it fixed."

That is a mistake, just like trading for Watson was.

The first step to solving a problem is recognizing that there is one. It's time for the Browns to give up on Watson and cut their losses in what might be the worst trade in NFL history.

Cleveland goes back on the road in Week 6 to take on the Philadelphia Eagles (2-2).