The Cleveland Browns, if they had a brain cell to share amongst the entire front office and ownership, knew that their decision to acquire quarterback Deshaun Watson was not one for the 2022 season, but rather for 2023 and beyond. While there was no suspension yet handed down at the time, they knew one was coming, and they knew it would be substantial.
It may or may not have been bigger than they were expecting, but the reality is he was going to miss enough time to severely hamper their ability to win extensively in 2022. But now the calendar has rolled on to 2023, and they believe they are seeing the player they paid $230 million guaranteed.