Deshaun Watson didn’t even step on the field in Week 1 — and yet, his name was everywhere. Once seen as the quarterback destined to lead the Cleveland Browns into a new golden era, Watson has become more of a cautionary tale than a franchise savior. The former Texans star, now battling through multiple Achilles injuries and inconsistent play, continues to cast a long shadow over Cleveland’s quarterback room. But as he stood on the sidelines, another familiar face was making noise — Baker Mayfield, the man Cleveland shipped away to make room for Watson, delivered another clutch win for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
And just like that, the comparisons came roaring back.
Watson’s Harsh Reality in Cleveland
The Browns mortgaged their future in 2021 to land Deshaun Watson, sending a historic trade package to the Houston Texans and handing him a fully guaranteed $230 million contract. The expectation was simple: Watson would be the missing piece to take Cleveland from hopeful underdogs to true contenders.
Instead, the results have been jarring. Watson has suited up for just 19 games in three seasons with the Browns — only three more than he played in his final year in Houston. Worse, when he has been on the field, his play has fallen far below his Pro Bowl standard. Missed throws, shaky decision-making, and a lack of rhythm have left many wondering if the Watson Cleveland invested in is gone for good.
So when Week 1 rolled around and Watson wasn’t playing, it was no surprise he became an easy target for critics. After all, Browns fans are watching an expensive sideline presence while the franchise still searches for stability under center.
Baker Mayfield Steals the Spotlight
While Watson faded into the background, Baker Mayfield — the quarterback Cleveland once deemed “too immature” — was busy proving he still belongs in the spotlight. Now with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Mayfield opened his 2025 campaign by leading his team to a win over division rival Atlanta.
Sure, his stat line wasn’t flawless: just a 53.1% completion rate. But Mayfield’s heart has never been measured by percentages. He tossed three touchdown passes, including a game-winning strike to rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka. It was classic Baker — fiery, confident, and delivering in crunch time.
“Damn shame Baker was ‘too immature’ in Cleveland,” TikTok star Joey “Sir Yacht” Kinsley posted on X during the game. “In other news Deshaun Watson was on the sideline today.”
The post went viral, and just like that, the debate was reignited: Did the Browns give up on the wrong quarterback?
The Price Tag That Won’t Go Away
The sting for Cleveland isn’t just Watson’s shaky availability — it’s the price tag. Baker Mayfield’s cap hit in 2025 is nearly $12 million less than Watson’s, according to Spotrac. And looking forward, that gap is only going to grow. Watson’s future cap hits are projected to balloon north of $60 million per season, while Mayfield’s remains modest in comparison.
That’s the bitter reality for Cleveland: Mayfield is thriving with a new team, and Watson has yet to justify his record-shattering contract.
Houston’s New Chapter
Ironically, while Cleveland is left questioning its quarterback future, the Texans may be in a better place than anyone expected. By moving on from Watson, Houston avoided being tethered to his massive contract and the uncertainty surrounding his availability. Instead, they drafted C.J. Stroud, who burst onto the NFL scene with a Pro Bowl rookie season.
But even Houston isn’t free of questions. Stroud struggled in the Texans’ Week 1 loss to the Rams, failing to find the end zone and looking like a step behind the quarterback who wowed fans last year. The Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan M. Alexander defended Stroud, noting he was “the least of the Texans’ problems,” but the noise around his performance shows just how high expectations have become.
Stroud will be extension-eligible in 2026, and many believe he’s on track for a historic contract of his own. For Houston, the question isn’t whether he’s their guy — it’s how much he’ll cost.
The Legacy of the Browns’ Gamble
In the end, this story isn’t just about Week 1. It’s about legacy, reputation, and what could have been. Cleveland took the biggest gamble in franchise history by trading for Deshaun Watson, and so far, the return has been disappointment. Meanwhile, Baker Mayfield — the fiery, flawed, but undeniably competitive quarterback they cast aside — is still proving he can win games in this league.
And that’s why Watson continues to catch strays. Every Mayfield win, every reminder of his grit, every highlight from Tampa Bay reopens the wound in Cleveland. The Browns went all-in for Watson, and unless he finds a way to turn back the clock, the shadow of Baker Mayfield will keep haunting them.
Because in the NFL, it doesn’t matter how much money you make, how many headlines you grab, or how big the trade package was. At the end of the day, it all comes down to one simple question: can you deliver when the lights are brightest?
For Baker Mayfield, the answer was “yes” in Week 1. For Deshaun Watson, the silence on the sideline said it all.
