The Cleveland Browns have a stacked quarterback room and despite the depth it provides, that may not actually be the best thing considering what it says about Deshaun Watson.
Cleveland’s desire to have multiple quality backups behind its starter is more than understandable, given Watson has played just six regular-season games in each of his two seasons with the team. But coming off of a season-ending shoulder surgery and entering into a make-or-break year, the fact that the Browns signed both Jameis Winston and Tyler Huntley has raised some eyebrows around the city.
A lack of confidence in Watson’s durability and/or efficacy is also a viable explanation for why the franchise chose to add Huntely — a former starter for the Baltimore Ravens — alongside Winston, a previous No. 1 overall pick.
The Browns erred badly in starting the 2023 season with raw rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson as the top backup behind Watson. I believe they learned from it,” Tony Grossi of The Land on Demand and ESPN 850 wrote in a mailbag on March 31. “When Huntley was left unsigned, they saw him as a cheap insurance policy in case Watson and Winston get injured. They keep saying Watson will be fine, but the emphasis on experienced backup quarterbacks this year would lead anyone to believe that nothing is guaranteed.”
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