NFL insider gives Deshaun Watson bad news as Browns weigh $92,000,000 problem against 2025 NFL Draft

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has had to duck for cover in recent weeks. After a season that seemed to be going nowhere even when Watson was fully healthy, the Browns eventually ended up going 3-14. Their season ended in a whimper in Week 18 after the Baltimore Ravens stuffed them in a locker in a 35-10 loss.

That sorry defeat means the Browns officially have the second overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, raising further questions on how long Watson will be in the building.

On Tuesday, NFL insider Dianna Russini made an appearance on the Dan Le Batard Show and gave some insight into what the Browns will do in April. If Russini's comments are anything to go by, the Browns might have already made a decision on Watson's career.

“They’re going quarterback. They see what we see. This is not a mystery. This is not like they’re psyched about Deshaun Watson’s ability or leadership. They know this isn’t great," Russini said.

"But they also have no way out of this. So they have to sort of barrel through. It’s almost like they’re constructing their team like Deshaun Watson isn’t a part of it. They have to move forward and find the answer because I think the fanbase will forgive.”

The Browns still owe Watson $92 million as part of the fully guaranteed $230 million deal they gave him after pulling the trigger on a blockbuster trade. In the last week of December, Watson and the Browns came to a mutual agreement to restructure the rest of his contract to give the franchise some leeway to make some moves in 2025.

That restructure means the Browns will likely have Watson on the roster in 2025 and possibly in 2026. However, that does not mean the Browns are under any obligation to play him, especially given the fact that he suffered a setback after undergoing surgery to replace his ruptured Achilles.

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Exploring Cleveland Browns' options in 2025 NFL Draft

With the second overall pick, the Browns essentially have the world at their feet. The Tennessee Titans have the first overall pick and there is a very real possibility that they end up drafting a quarterback given how Will Levis has performed this year.

As things stand, Colorado's Shedeur Sanders is the favorite to go No. 1 overall even if another team like the Raiders or Giants trade up for the Titans' pick. That leaves the Browns with Miami's Cam Ward. However, Ward is not quite seen as an NFL-ready prospect like Jayden Daniels was coming out of last year's draft.

One draft analyst also warned that the Cam Ward experience could potentially be a head-scratcher like the Russell Westbrook experience.