The Cleveland Browns are paying Deshaun Watson to sink their own ship — and it’s working

Disappointments and bad seasons are nothing new for the Cleveland Browns, but the team’s current state feels uniquely bleak.

A sense of permanence surrounds the franchise’s struggles, exacerbated by the acquisition of quarterback Deshaun Watson. His fully guaranteed contract has become an anchor weighing down the organization, with no possible escape in sight.

Watson has shown flashes of potential in his three seasons with Cleveland, but for the most part, his tenure has been a sobering reminder of the team’s bleak outlook.

With a championship-caliber defense, there was hope last season that head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry had found a way forward. That optimism increased after the late-season signing of veteran Joe Flacco, who came out of retirement to deliver a surprisingly strong December. Flacco reinvigorated the offense, which at times looked unstoppable.

But momentum waned as offseason decisions were made. The Browns opted for continuity, banking on a healthy Watson to return to form following his season-ending surgery. Instead, Cleveland has been plagued by injuries on the offensive line, a lackluster running game without Nick Chubb and a passing attack hampered by Watson’s inconsistency.

Watson’s inability to find Amari Cooper — or anyone else for that matter — has left the Browns’ offense lifeless. Cooper might as well be Alice Cooper, Michael Cooper or even Mark Cooper from Hanging out with Mr. Cooper. The results have been so disappointing.

In October, Watson suffered another season-ending injury, leaving Cleveland with a 1-6 record under his leadership and no reason for optimism. The quarterback, once heralded for his elite skills, now looks like a rusty Chevette after too many rebuilds.

Oddly enough, Watson’s absence seemed to ease some of the pressure on the attack. Stefanski no longer had to argue that Watson gave the Browns the best chance to win.

The team responded by shocking the Baltimore Ravens in one of the most unexpected upsets of the season. But that one magic Stefanski found with Flacco is long gone.

Jameis Winston, now at the helm, is playing with purpose, but he’s running a makeshift operation. Even the team’s own staff seems to lack faith in Brown’s chances.

The weight holding Cleveland back remains Watson’s guaranteed contract. That financial obligation is a burden the Browns can’t escape without crippling the franchise for years.

Berry may publicly express confidence in Watson’s ability to rebound, but it’s hard to believe he sees the quarterback as capable of leading Cleveland to back-to-back wins, let alone an AFC North title.

Berry’s fingerprints are all over this roster, and until the Watson issue is resolved, the Browns are stuck paddling a sinking ship, knowing that no amount of effort can deliver real progress.