Hall of Famer has advice for Browns regarding Deshaun Watson

Former Dallas Cowboys head coach and current NBC personality Jason Garrett generated headlines when he warned that Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski could lose the locker room if Stefanski didn't bench struggling quarterback Deshaun Watson with the club at 1-4. 

During the latest edition of the "This is Football with Kevin Clark" podcast, Hall of Fame signal-caller and current NFL analyst Kurt Warner echoed Garrett's take. 

"If I was running the Browns I would make a change at the quarterback position," Warner said, as shared by Matt Hladik of The Spun. "I understand all the developments there and the money that you owe Deshaun Watson and what you gave up for him. You just can't win with him right now." 

Warner was referencing the fully guaranteed five-year, $230M contract Watson received from the Browns in March 2022. Numerous outsiders are convinced team ownership is essentially forcing Stefanski to continue playing Watson because of that deal even though the 29-year-old is, statistically speaking, one of the league's worst starting quarterbacks. 

According to Pro Football Reference, Watson began Thursday ranked last in the NFL with a 21.0 adjusted QBR, last with a 31.2% passing success rate and 29th with a 74.2 passer rating on the season. Despite such numbers, Stefanski is starting Watson over backup Jameis Winston for this coming Sunday's game at the 2-2 Philadelphia Eagles. 

Earlier in the week, one unnamed NFC coach shared how he felt Watson and Cleveland's "entire offense is disjointed" this season. Following the Browns' 34-13 loss to the Washington Commanders this past Sunday, Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen said that Watson "looked like a player who's had stuff going on above the shoulders."

"I don't know who he is right now," Warner added about Watson. "I don't know how good he can be as a quarterback, but what I know is this Cleveland Browns team is not nearly as bad as they're playing right now. They've got a defense that can win and they're not going to win with quarterback play like this. And it's been consistently like this for a long time."

As of Thursday morning, FanDuel Sportsbook listed the Browns as massive 9.5-point underdogs against the Eagles. One wonders if Watson could play poorly enough at Lincoln Financial Field to be pulled before the game gets out of hand.