Following their trade for quarterback Deshaun Watson, the Cleveland Browns gave him a $230 million contract. One rival owner is not happy.
Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti took issue with the guaranteed money that Watson is getting.
Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti on Deshaun Watson's $230 million guaranteed contract: "I don't know that he should've been the first guy to get a fully guaranteed contract. To me, that's something that is groundbreaking, and it'll make negotiations harder with others."
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) March 29, 2022
There’s a lot to unpack here.
One thing worth noting — Watson’s contract is not the first to be fully guaranteed. That’s not unprecedented. What is unprecedented is the $230 million guaranteed. That’s not only record-setting, but it obliterated the previous record of $150 million.
Furthermore, while Watson has proclaimed his innocence and will not be charged, he has been accused of sexual assault by 22 different women. Looking beyond that, Watson’s 2022 debut will be his first game in nearly two years. He last played in the 2020 regular-season finale, which was on Jan. 3, 2021. So, as talented as he was the last time we saw him, there are some questions. Namely, will he be suspended, and will the on-field magic still be there when he does return?
Those are two significant questions to ask for someone who’s getting that kind of guaranteed money. From that perspective, Bisciotti has a point.
Now, is he the right person to make that point? That’s more debatable. NFL fans pointed out two issues with Bisciotti’s take.
One, the Ravens have their own controversial figure in their not-too-distant past.
Ray Lewis is the Ravens franchise icon https://t.co/RKFiBX2gzX
— Rob Parritt (@rob_parritt) March 29, 2022
I dont recall signing up for ethics lessons from the guy who signed ray Lewis's paychecks. https://t.co/ehLPuo8Q8L
— Mikewichter (@mikewichter) March 29, 2022
The second issue fans took wasn’t just in regards to the team’s past. Lamar Jackson is going to be a free agent at the end of the 2022 season. With this much money guaranteed to Watson, the former league MVP — who doesn’t have Watson’s legal baggage — will have a strong place to start negotiating.
In other words, he knows Lamar is about to be next lol https://t.co/RZ5Q49tanI
— Anthony Duckett (@a_duckett) March 29, 2022
NFL owners are mad because QBs will start wanting more.
I'll translate this
"I don't know if we can pay Lamar that much" https://t.co/JOpnC1qERW— Benjamin (@UKfaninOH) March 29, 2022
Time will tell if this will be a roadblock for the Ravens to re-sign Jackson. But it’s almost certain to make it more expensive.
