Ranking the NFL Starting Quarterbacks

#27 Deshaun Watson (Cleveland Browns)

If you told me 4 years ago that I’d have Deshaun Watson ranked as the 27th-best quarterback in the NFL heading into the 2024 season, I would have said you were out of your mind.

At the time, he was easily one of the 5 or 6 best QBs in the NFL, appeared to be ascending, and was only 25 years old.

His 2020 season with the Texans was outstanding: 70.2 completion %, 4,823 passing yards, 8.9 yards per attempt, 33 TD, 7 INT, and a 112.4 Passer Rating. He also added 444 yards on the ground and 3 rushing TDs.

PFF even had him as the 3rd-highest graded passer, slightly ahead of Patrick Mahomes and only trailing Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. That’s some pretty decent company, no?

Then, of course, everything off the field happened. Watson didn’t play at all in 2021 and was suspended for most of 2022. Not to mention, he missed 11 games in 2023, including the final 8 due to a season-ending injury to his throwing shoulder.

He’s played just 12 games over the last 3 seasons.

When he has played, he hasn’t looked anything like his former self. Since returning from his suspension, he’s completed less than 60% of his passes, thrown just 14 touchdowns, and played to an 81.7 passer rating. That’s with a good supporting cast and scheme around him.

You can’t solely blame it on the fact that he was playing through injuries last season either. His decision-making has been brutal at times. Just look at this play as an example. Watson left the pocket when there was no pressure and then tried to force a throw into a tiny window 35 yards downfield while on the run:

That’s not what you want.

Also concerning is the fact that the Browns offense was humming last season once Joe Flacco (whose career had fallen off a cliff) took over. Again, clearly it wasn’t the scheme and weapons around Watson that were holding him back.

So let’s recap. Watson has played just 12 games in the last 3 seasons and is now returning from a major injury to his throwing shoulder after looking like a shell of himself in the few games he did get to play. It’s hard to be overly optimistic about 2024.

To be clear, Watson’s physical skills are still good, although he hasn’t looked quite as dynamic as a runner or thrower since joining the Browns. But who knows what role this most recent injury will play in diminishing him further. Either way, I believe he can put together a decent season in Kevin Stefanski’s offense. I’m just not sure he’s capable of much more than that.

Check out the rest of the rankings here:
#32 Bo Nix (Denver Broncos)
#31 Drake Maye (New England Patriots)
#30 J.J. McCarthy (Minnesota Vikings)
#29 Gardner Minshew (Las Vegas Raiders)
#28 Will Levis (Tennessee Titans)
#27 Deshaun Watson (Cleveland Browns)
#26 Anthony Richardson (Indianapolis Colts)
#25 Bryce Young (Carolina Panthers)
#24 Daniel Jones (New York Giants)
#23 Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders)
#22 Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears)
#21 Geno Smith (Seattle Seahawks)
#20 Russell Wilson (Pittsburgh Steelers)
#19 Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints)
#18 Baker Mayfield (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
#17 Kyler Murray (Arizona Cardinals)
#16 Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars)
#15 Jared Goff (Detroit Lions)
#14 Tua Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins)
#13 Kirk Cousins (Atlanta Falcons)
#12 Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles)
#11 Brock Purdy (San Francisco 49ers)
#10 Jordan Love (Green Bay Packers)
#9 Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys)
#8 C.J. Stroud (Houston Texans)
#7 Justin Herbert (Los Angeles Chargers)
#6 Aaron Rodgers (New York Jets)
#5 Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams)
#4 Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens)
#3 Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals)
#2 Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills)
#1 Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs)