Watson to Cleveland

[StumpHunter]

This does mean we will get to see a lot of Case this year while Watson serves his suspension.

One more chance to try to earn another chance to start for someone in 2023.

Case got traded to Buffalo....Today

Saw that. I just don't get what teams see in Brisset who will replace Case.

[CharVike]

The Rams and Matthew Stafford have reached agreement on a four-year, $160 million extension that includes $135 million guaranteed and should allow the veteran quarterback to finish his career in Los Angeles, sources tell ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Rams paid too much for an mediocre quarterback

QBs that can pass are worth a ton. The guy threw 40 TDs. I'm not sure how you call 40+ TDs mediocre. What would you call less than 20? I'd call it worthless and you better get a new guy. Stafford I have seen many times and he never worried me. He beat us this year but he played like #### against a horrible defense. But him and Brady are the only 2 with more than 40 TD passes. That's not mediocre. If he wins another Super Bowl he will be a HOFer.

[CharVike]

OK, let's tell the full history. Yes, the Texans won only 4 games in 2020. But they were 10-6 and 11-5 the two years before that. They had Kansas City down 24-0 in the 2019 divisional round. And by the time 2020 came around, Bill O'Brien had pretty well ruined that team.

Watson also played in consecutive National Championship games for Clemson, winning one and throwing for 825 yards and 7 TDs in those two games. As a pro, he's been excellent. Even in their 4-12 year, he threw for almost 5,000 yards and 33 TDs. Also, no quarterback in the NFL has faced more pressure than Watson, yet he's one of the best. Some of the plays he makes off script are reminiscent of Lamar Jackson, but he's a far better passer than Jackson.

Bottom line, the guy can flat-out play, and he's a winner. He's proven that at every level.

What surprises me (and no matter who signed him, this would have surprised me) is that Cleveland would take on the PR nightmare that is to come. I'm all for forgiveness and redemption. I've been outspoken in my disapproval of continuing to think of someone as guilty after they've been acquitted. But there are civil suits pending from 22 different women. Yes, a grand jury failed to indict, but that's different from an acquittal, and this thing is far from over in the public's mind. Who knows if the NFL will even let him play without a suspension? And the Browns gave up three first-rounders, a third, and a late-round pick to take this on, plus 5 years and $230 million fully guaranteed. Just ... wow.

There was talk a couple of weeks ago that Minnesota was one of Watson's desired destinations. I don't for a minute think Kirk Cousins is on Watson's level as a player. But given the PR nightmare, and given the cost Cleveland paid, I'm glad that never materialized.

Even in their 4-12 year, he threw for almost 5,000 yards and 33 TDs. If another QB did that same thing many would say the guy is just building stats. Which is it. Stat building or playing good at QB? I'd say good QB play. When the Texans had those great seasons he threw 26 TD passes in each. That's not out of this world by any stretch.

[CharVike]

This does mean we will get to see a lot of Case this year while Watson serves his suspension.

One more chance to try to earn another chance to start for someone in 2023.

Case got traded to Buffalo....Today

Case is a good backup. It would be hard to find a better one. Only a 7th rounder. You won't find a QB like him in that round.

[fiestavike]

This just shows the value of QBs in the NFL. The shortage is tremendous. Watson is a good QB. Yes he has the civil cases and that stuff will get settled. The quicker the better would be my approach. Giving up those picks is a small price. Watson value is the 1st pick + which is off the charts. There is no development time needed which is a huge benefit. He's a 10 plus year player and all that added up don't come around very often. I don't think the fans will give a crap about that civil stuff. Hopefully Watson has learned something from this. He is a much bigger target now than he was before.

I dont think it shows the shortage of QBs so much as it shows that all the equalizers have been removed from the game. A wide set of skills and attributes were required to succeed as an nfl qb. Guys like Joe Kapp were not just NFL QBs but great ones.

I think we dont see a shortage of QBs we just have a set of rules that minimize many of the attributes of great QBs, and minimize every player except the QB, making it almost impossible to consistently contend without one of the best QBs on your roster.

The game is now VERY boring.

[VikingsVictorious]

Case got traded to Buffalo....Today

Case is a good backup. It would be hard to find a better one. Only a 7th rounder. You won't find a QB like him in that round.

We should have traded for him.

[CharVike]

This just shows the value of QBs in the NFL. The shortage is tremendous. Watson is a good QB. Yes he has the civil cases and that stuff will get settled. The quicker the better would be my approach. Giving up those picks is a small price. Watson value is the 1st pick + which is off the charts. There is no development time needed which is a huge benefit. He's a 10 plus year player and all that added up don't come around very often. I don't think the fans will give a crap about that civil stuff. Hopefully Watson has learned something from this. He is a much bigger target now than he was before.

I dont think it shows the shortage of QBs so much as it shows that all the equalizers have been removed from the game. A wide set of skills and attributes were required to succeed as an nfl qb. Guys like Joe Kapp were not just NFL QBs but great ones.

I think we dont see a shortage of QBs we just have a set of rules that minimize many of the attributes of great QBs, and minimize every player except the QB, making it almost impossible to consistently contend without one of the best QBs on your roster.

The game is now VERY boring.

There are teams out there right now that have nothing at QB. For example NY, Car, Sea, NO, Chicago, Indy ect.... that's a shortage and it's only teams off the top of my head. If you look at that Saint team they are solid but they have some gimmick at the QB position. That won't work. The 49ers contend and were a drive away from the Super Bowl. They beat Dak and Rodgers. Jimmy G can do some good things but he can also play like crap. That's why they drafted a guy. The rules are helping QBs not minimize them. You can't even touch a WR anymore. They run free. The pocket as Brady has said is the safest place for a QB. He should know. But you better have a QB that can throw the ball accurately or you're done. A team needs to pass block well also. But in the NFL you always needed a QB. That's why they fly off the draft board. Wentz is a hot commodity. Watson is a hot commodity. Wilson is a hot commodity. If that don't show a shortage what does?

[fiestavike]

I dont think it shows the shortage of QBs so much as it shows that all the equalizers have been removed from the game. A wide set of skills and attributes were required to succeed as an nfl qb. Guys like Joe Kapp were not just NFL QBs but great ones.

I think we dont see a shortage of QBs we just have a set of rules that minimize many of the attributes of great QBs, and minimize every player except the QB, making it almost impossible to consistently contend without one of the best QBs on your roster.

The game is now VERY boring.

There are teams out there right now that have nothing at QB. For example NY, Car, Sea, NO, Chicago, Indy ect.... that's a shortage and it's only teams off the top of my head. If you look at that Saint team they are solid but they have some gimmick at the QB position. That won't work. The 49ers contend and were a drive away from the Super Bowl. They beat Dak and Rodgers. Jimmy G can do some good things but he can also play like crap. That's why they drafted a guy. The rules are helping QBs not minimize them. You can't even touch a WR anymore. They run free. The pocket as Brady has said is the safest place for a QB. He should know. But you better have a QB that can throw the ball accurately or you're done. A team needs to pass block well also. But in the NFL you always needed a QB. That's why they fly off the draft board. Wentz is a hot commodity. Watson is a hot commodity. Wilson is a hot commodity. If that don't show a shortage what does?

Teams with the 32nd ranked qb to teams with the 8th best qb are all in the same boat. None are seriously contending. The nfl is turning itself into a totally star driven league. Deshaun Watson has a chance to be in the upper echelon. If he isn't, the Browns are basically no worse off than they were before. If you want to see it as a shortage because there arent 32 top notch QBs you can look at it that way. I'd say some of the quarterbacks who are worse today are better QBs, and many of the 'best' QBs today would have been worthless failures not long ago.

I dont see a shortage of good qbs. I see rule changes that allow hacks to succeed and allow player who are basically one or two dimensional passers to be 'elite'. Meanwhile, most of the NFLs all time great qbs wouldn't have been good enough in the one or two dimensions that matter to play today, but they had other characteristics which have been reduced to 0 importance by the crap show that is the NFL.

The game today sucks, but it's very simple to figure out how to build a winner.

[CharVike]

There are teams out there right now that have nothing at QB. For example NY, Car, Sea, NO, Chicago, Indy ect.... that's a shortage and it's only teams off the top of my head. If you look at that Saint team they are solid but they have some gimmick at the QB position. That won't work. The 49ers contend and were a drive away from the Super Bowl. They beat Dak and Rodgers. Jimmy G can do some good things but he can also play like crap. That's why they drafted a guy. The rules are helping QBs not minimize them. You can't even touch a WR anymore. They run free. The pocket as Brady has said is the safest place for a QB. He should know. But you better have a QB that can throw the ball accurately or you're done. A team needs to pass block well also. But in the NFL you always needed a QB. That's why they fly off the draft board. Wentz is a hot commodity. Watson is a hot commodity. Wilson is a hot commodity. If that don't show a shortage what does?

Teams with the 32nd ranked qb to teams with the 8th best qb are all in the same boat. None are seriously contending. The nfl is turning itself into a totally star driven league. Deshaun Watson has a chance to be in the upper echelon. If he isn't, the Browns are basically no worse off than they were before. If you want to see it as a shortage because there arent 32 top notch QBs you can look at it that way. I'd say some of the quarterbacks who are worse today are better QBs, and many of the 'best' QBs today would have been worthless failures not long ago.

I dont see a shortage of good qbs. I see rule changes that allow hacks to succeed and allow player who are basically one or two dimensional passers to be 'elite'. Meanwhile, most of the NFLs all time great qbs wouldn't have been good enough in the one or two dimensions that matter to play today, but they had other characteristics which have been reduced to 0 importance by the crap show that is the NFL.

The game today sucks, but it's very simple to figure out how to build a winner.

Burrow was in the Super Bowl. I don't think he was ranked higher than 8th. Watson is already a good QB. Now he is with a solid team. If that team stays solid they will be contenders. Rule changes have an effect on the stats. But guys that throw well today could throw during any period. Brady has proven that because of the time frame he has played. But everything starts with the QB. But if you can't build a team the QB won't even matter. Stafford is the most recent and perfect example for a need of a team. The Bucs didn't have a chance until Brady came. Now they are contenders. Put famous back on that team and they are done. The game might suck to some but it's still a very popular form of entertainment to many people. Last year was tough. When Hunter went down that killed our D. You can't replace Hunter. He's a monster. If the Rams lost Danold they would have been done. He makes their D. I'm looking forward to a new start with a new group. But I don't feel the same about the sport and maybe age plays a part in that.

[Pondering Her Percy]

It's funny because I have a buddy that's a Vikings fan and thinks Watson is the next coming of Tom Brady. He also hates Cousins. So he really wanted the Vikings to trade for Watson. But has said for a long time now that "the Vikings cant build around Cousins with his contract".... yet he wanted Deshaun Watson.

Deshaun Watson costs on average $46 million a year and also costs you 3 first round picks, a 3rd round pick and a 4th round pick.

If we "cant build around Cousins because of his contract" how do we build around a $46 million QB with no first round picks for the next 3 years? And if we traded for Watson that probably would've cost us at least two of these 4 players: Harrison Smith, Danielle Hunter, Eric Kendricks and/or Adam Thielen. Probably Hunter for sure and one of the others. So that depletes our roster even more and we have zero top tier quality picks to rebuttal that or money to do it in free agency for that matter.

Yes Watson is better than Cousins. But I dont see any way that trade would ever be worth the price that comes with it. I am really glad this front office didnt pull the trigger here.

[Texas Vike]

It's funny because I have a buddy that's a Vikings fan and thinks Watson is the next coming of Tom Brady. He also hates Cousins. So he really wanted the Vikings to trade for Watson. But has said for a long time now that "the Vikings cant build around Cousins with his contract".... yet he wanted Deshaun Watson.

Deshaun Watson costs on average $46 million a year and also costs you 3 first round picks, a 3rd round pick and a 4th round pick.

If we "cant build around Cousins because of his contract" how do we build around a $46 million QB with no first round picks for the next 3 years? And if we traded for Watson that probably would've cost us at least two of these 4 players: Harrison Smith, Danielle Hunter, Eric Kendricks and/or Adam Thielen. Probably Hunter for sure and one of the others. So that depletes our roster even more and we have zero top tier quality picks to rebuttal that or money to do it in free agency for that matter.

Yes Watson is better than Cousins. But I dont see any way that trade would ever be worth the price that comes with it. I am really glad this front office didnt pull the trigger here.

I agree. There's also the PR hit your franchise takes. I've seen loads of ex-Browns fans migrating to Vikings fandom on Reddit because of this move.

[Pondering Her Percy]

It's funny because I have a buddy that's a Vikings fan and thinks Watson is the next coming of Tom Brady. He also hates Cousins. So he really wanted the Vikings to trade for Watson. But has said for a long time now that "the Vikings cant build around Cousins with his contract".... yet he wanted Deshaun Watson.

Deshaun Watson costs on average $46 million a year and also costs you 3 first round picks, a 3rd round pick and a 4th round pick.

If we "cant build around Cousins because of his contract" how do we build around a $46 million QB with no first round picks for the next 3 years? And if we traded for Watson that probably would've cost us at least two of these 4 players: Harrison Smith, Danielle Hunter, Eric Kendricks and/or Adam Thielen. Probably Hunter for sure and one of the others. So that depletes our roster even more and we have zero top tier quality picks to rebuttal that or money to do it in free agency for that matter.

Yes Watson is better than Cousins. But I dont see any way that trade would ever be worth the price that comes with it. I am really glad this front office didnt pull the trigger here.

I agree. There's also the PR hit your franchise takes. I've seen loads of ex-Browns fans migrating to Vikings fandom on Reddit because of this move.

Right and I didnt even add in the legal troubles to my post. Even more reason to not attempt this move. And to be honest, I still dont see the Browns truly contending in the AFC. They'll be competitive but I still dont see them beating Buffalo or KC. Cincy as well. And the AFC West is loaded from top to bottom now too. They will be a playoff team, but that will be the extent of it.

[CharVike]

It's funny because I have a buddy that's a Vikings fan and thinks Watson is the next coming of Tom Brady. He also hates Cousins. So he really wanted the Vikings to trade for Watson. But has said for a long time now that "the Vikings cant build around Cousins with his contract".... yet he wanted Deshaun Watson.

Deshaun Watson costs on average $46 million a year and also costs you 3 first round picks, a 3rd round pick and a 4th round pick.

If we "cant build around Cousins because of his contract" how do we build around a $46 million QB with no first round picks for the next 3 years? And if we traded for Watson that probably would've cost us at least two of these 4 players: Harrison Smith, Danielle Hunter, Eric Kendricks and/or Adam Thielen. Probably Hunter for sure and one of the others. So that depletes our roster even more and we have zero top tier quality picks to rebuttal that or money to do it in free agency for that matter.

Yes Watson is better than Cousins. But I dont see any way that trade would ever be worth the price that comes with it. I am really glad this front office didnt pull the trigger here.

These people that say you can't build around a contract are wrong. The Packers gave Rodgers 50 million and basically people must think they can't build a team now. They can't build a team because they don't draft well. They pick a QB in round 1 when their OL isn't good enough to protect the QB against the better teams. The QB they drafted sucks. That's dumb and bad drafting. We have no roster because we can't draft. That has nothing to do with a contract. Last year we got nothing from the draft. That's almost impossible to do. But when you trade away from the talent and collect later round picks what do you think will happen. In 1981 the 49ers drafted 3 players that were immediate starters in their secondary. On top of that they were good starters including Ronnie Lott. That's how you draft. There's no reason why we can't do that this year. It's not impossible. McVay took over a 4-12 Ram team and they went 11-5 his first year. The good and bad teams in the NFL are not that far apart. I don't give a crap about this FA reject fest. You need to draft well. If our new guys pick a few starters for the positions that we have little talent we will be able to compete. If it's a draft of nothing then we won't compete.

[StumpHunter]

It's funny because I have a buddy that's a Vikings fan and thinks Watson is the next coming of Tom Brady. He also hates Cousins. So he really wanted the Vikings to trade for Watson. But has said for a long time now that "the Vikings cant build around Cousins with his contract".... yet he wanted Deshaun Watson.

Deshaun Watson costs on average $46 million a year and also costs you 3 first round picks, a 3rd round pick and a 4th round pick.

If we "cant build around Cousins because of his contract" how do we build around a $46 million QB with no first round picks for the next 3 years? And if we traded for Watson that probably would've cost us at least two of these 4 players: Harrison Smith, Danielle Hunter, Eric Kendricks and/or Adam Thielen. Probably Hunter for sure and one of the others. So that depletes our roster even more and we have zero top tier quality picks to rebuttal that or money to do it in free agency for that matter.

Yes Watson is better than Cousins. But I dont see any way that trade would ever be worth the price that comes with it. I am really glad this front office didnt pull the trigger here.

These people that say you can't build around a contract are wrong. The Packers gave Rodgers 50 million and basically people must think they can't build a team now. They can't build a team because they don't draft well. They pick a QB in round 1 when their OL isn't good enough to protect the QB against the better teams.

If their Oline isn't good enough than no Oline is good enough.

[JJBreaksRecords]

We cant build around Cousins and his contract for the next 2 years. I dont think there are any more deals to do other maybe than getting rid/trading AT and Smith. The next 5 years might be harder than the last. Unless we can trade Hunter (which no one wants I dont think) and a few other things. We kicked the can(s) down the road this year again and it will hurt.