Known for playing and connecting with quarterbacks in the past, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski chastised offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey on Wednesday.
Cleveland is looking at Dorsey in a thankless, near-failure situation akin to pulling on a parachute as a nosediving plane approaches impact.
Jameis Winston replaced Deshaun Watson, Stefanski’s pilot for this Browns system, with nowhere to go but up. The problem is, the heavy load in the warehouse cannot be dumped to save the job.
Not Winston or Dorsey, Stefanski, Belichick or Parcells have an easy solution to Watson’s problem.
While Watson officially hit injured reserve with a season-ending injury for the second straight season, his financial cost to Cleveland is part of the story. Because of a guaranteed deal—unprecedented at this level, position, and length of contract in the NFL—general manager Andrew Berry tied the Browns to Watson for several years. His dead-cap when it’s released this week? About $120 million and more than $80 million more by 2025.
Next year is even better, as the record is well north of the record total of $85 million in spending the Broncos split between 2024 and 2025 for kicking Russell Wilson to the curb.
Watson’s 2025 dead cap hit will be $118.94 million, with another $53 million in ’26. He will not become a free agent until 2027. Neither that money was returned nor the three first-round picks delivered to the Texans in the trade for Watson.
With one win in seven games this season, six games played in 2023 and six in 2022 after an 11-game suspension, Watson returns to the bench with 19 touchdown passes in 19 games for the Browns. His 9-10 record since staying through the 2021 season with the Texans partly explains why Cleveland fans decided to cheer Watson’s second-quarter injury last week.
Choosing a direction with Watson is the first step for Cleveland to decide where the Browns go from here.
Despite a shocking turnaround from owner Jimmy Haslam, Browns general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Stefanski aren’t going anywhere this season or the offseason.
Both signed long-term contract extensions in June, part of the reward for Stefanski leading the Browns to 11 wins and a playoff berth in 2023 after Watson’s shoulder surgery and five different quarterbacks making at least one start.
The tandem is 38-37 since being hired in 2020.
Watson is still owed $92 million over the next two seasons. It’s confirmed, and the only way out of the deal would be for Watson to be suspended again.
Stefanski didn’t sound like a coach ready to move on from Watson on Monday, either.
“This is a tough break for him, but I know he’ll bounce back,” Stefanski said. “But he’s been a big part of this football team, in the locker room, on the training ground, on the field, and we’re going to support him as he recovers from that injury. I think we know what you are talking about. I know what he brings to the table for this football team.”
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