The Cleveland Browns are stuck in a void. The trade for quarterback Deshaun Watson and the massive extension that followed might go down as the NFL’s worst transaction in recent memory. Since the trade — and suspension — Watson has been a shell of himself, repeatedly providing below-average play.
Watson has been widely criticized during his time in Cleveland, and his time off the field has found itself under the magnifying glass, too. While his play continues to free fall, his activities online led one prominent analyst to call him and his commitment to the Browns into question.
Deshaun Watson Grilled for TikTok Videos
Cleveland has plenty of quality talent on its roster with names like Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward, and the Madden-slighted Jerry Jeudy. However, the Browns could only muster three wins on the season thanks to league-worst quarterback play. Watson appeared in seven games before tearing his Achilles, and his replacements didn’t fare any better.
Away from the gridiron, though, he has managed to generate attention on TikTok, where he posts content alongside his girlfriend, Jilly Anais. An influencer herself, the two are all over her feed on social media, attracting millions of views. But, to ESPN’s Michelle Smallmon, the situation is a clear indication of Watson’s mentality.
It doesn't seem like Deshaun Watson cares.@msmallmon | @ESPNCleveland pic.twitter.com/2KaCUrASzt
— UNSPORTSMANLIKE Radio (@UnSportsESPN) January 7, 2025
“They’re 3-14, they’ve had a really rough season, they’re out there getting worked by the Baltimore Ravens while he’s on the side of the road making TikToks with his girlfriend,” Smallmon said. “It doesn’t seem like he cares about the team or that he wants to be there either.”
She further explained that his lack of training reflected his approach to the game. For her, the lack of commitment to the sport and to keep improving was an indication of his dedication to the team and its performance. Tearing his Achilles ended his season, but Watson could have played the role of franchise quarterback better.
“I know that everybody deserves to have their own life, but I would think that if I really wanted to be better at my job, if I really wanted to say, ‘Hey, I haven’t been as good as you’ve needed me to be because of injury, suspension, and poor play,’ that I would be in the facility,” Smallmon said.
“I would be there for my teammates. I would be trying to do everything I could to make sure that I was exerting my presence with the organization so that they would still know, I’m the quarterback, and I’m your leader.”
To her credit, Smallmon isn’t wrong about Watson’s performance — it’s been dreadful. According to PFN’s QB+ metric, he ranked last among 39 qualified quarterbacks with an F grade and a 44.7 score.
He was in the bottom five for nearly every metric, including third-down conversion rate, passing from a clean pocket, and when passing under pressure. If not for the gargantuan contract that comes attached to him, Watson would likely be the first guy Cleveland looks to move off of before next season even begins. It already seems unlikely that he’ll take another snap for the Browns. Social media sideshows don’t help that cause.