Watson Joins Browns

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(03-25-2022, 09:11 PM)WiregrassBenGal Wrote: To me, DeShaun Watson doesn't seem that good. Maybe Baker Mayfield just had a bad year. If Baker goes on to Indianapolis or something and goes deep into the playoffs, while the Browns are sub-500 again because of Watson's suspensions or general ineptitude, then the millions of Browns fans are gonna barf at the same time.

As a football player? Because that is just wrong. Watson's last season was statistically better than Burrow's and nobody is thinking Burrow wasn't that good last year. The only difference is the Texans had the 30th overall/27th scoring defense and the 31st rushing offense so they couldn't win games.

3 of Watson's 4 years he's had a QB Rating of >103. Plus he is a primary passer has the ability to take advantage of openings if he needs and runs for 400-500 yards. This will be his 6th year in the NFL and he's just 1 year older than Burrow heading into his 3rd.

If that's not that good, then there's no good QBs in the league.

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Indy didn't want Baker. They would rather pay more money to get a 37-year-old Matt Ryan. 

Also Baker just isn't that good. 

Baker QB Rating+
2018: 105 (5% above average)
2019: 82 (18% below average)
2020: 106 (6% above average)
2021: 88 (12% below average)

Watson..
2017: 118
2018: 117
2019: 108
2020: 127

(For comparison, Dalton was 94, 103, 103, 93 his first four years as a 2nd round pick, not a 1st overall pick like Baker... and yet Baker is still worse than Dalton.)

Obviously QB Rating isn't the end-all stat, but it gives a pretty decent picture and Watson at his worst is still better than Baker at his best.

I just don't think that Baker is accurate enough to be a good starter in the NFL. Career 61.6% which isn't good in today's NFL. His Cmp%+ are 101, 79, 92, 79... almost dead on average followed by well below average. 

The Browns had 2 WRs and both would rather be gone than play with Baker anymore.