Deshaun Watson wants to join forces with an AFC North rival in 2024.
When speaking to quarterback trainer Quincy Avery, Watson advocated for free-agent wide receiver Tee Higgins to join the Cleveland Browns this offseason. He promised a high-volume aerial game for a team that ranked fifth in passing attempts this season.
“We want to pass the ball,” Watson said. “That’s what we’re gonna do. We’re gonna pass the ball a lot.”
Watson hoped their shared alma mater would appeal to the Cincinnati Bengals star.
“We’re gonna take good care of you. The Cleveland fans are gonna love you to death, and we got the Clemson ties. We ain’t get to play with each other, but this is our opportunity.”
Bengals fans won’t like this, but #Browns QB Deshaun Watson openly advocated for the team to sign soon to be free agent WR Tee Higgins today on their podcast⬇️⬇️
(🎥 via: @Lockerverse, @deshaunwatson and @QuincyAvery) pic.twitter.com/t4KjpnUvsf
— MoreForYouCleveland (@MoreForYou_CLE) January 26, 2024
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After two subpar seasons in Cleveland, Watson may see Higgins as a remedy.
Watson has averaged just 184.8 yards per game and an 81.7 quarterback rating with Cleveland. The Browns enjoyed their best success through the air when turning to Joe Flacco this winter.
Arguably the top wide receiver on the open market, Higgins exceeded 1,000 yards with 74 catches in back-to-back seasons before a rough 2023. A hamstring injury limited him to 12 games in a year that also saw Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow go down.
Higgins settled for 656 and five touchdowns, but the 25-year-old should still receive a lucrative deal this offseason. That could make him a difficult target for the Browns, who gave Watson a fully guaranteed $230 million contract after acquiring him in 2022 despite numerous allegations of sexual misconduct.