Cleveland Browns need Deshaun Watson to prove he was worth the trade drill and until he does there will be talk of Cleveland moving away from him.

ESPN has a bold prediction that the Browns could trade for a new quarterback. That quarterback is Justin Fields, who could be on his way out of Chicago soon with the Bears holding the keys to drafting Caleb Williams No. 1 over.

To trade for Fields the Browns would have to admit failure with the trade of Watson, something that they shouldn’t do quite yet.

“This is a wild one, I know. But if I were the Browns, I would look at Deshaun Watson as mostly a sunk cost and try to upgrade at quarterback. With no first-round pick and so much money already heading Watson’s way, this would be tough to do. But trading a second or third-round pick for Fields (still on his rookie contract) is feasible, and I’d like to see Fields in Kevin Stefanski’s offense. The alternative is simply hoping that Watson improves and, if not, wasting another year of a talented roster.” – Seth Walder, ESPN

Fields is entering his fourth season in 2024 and has not yet proven he is a franchise quarterback for the long haul either. That would put the Browns in a situation where they’re hoping Fields can do the same thing that Watson has yet to do, show he’s a franchise guy.

In Chicago, Fields is not surrounded by the talent he would be in Cleveland. Still, the Browns aren’t going to give up on Watson, a player they gave a record-breaking contract to. The Ohio State connection to many Browns fans could make it appealing, but Fields hasn’t been the passer that he can be in the NFL to this point. In 2022 he threw 17 touchdown passes and that’s the most he’s had so far.

Watson may not be the guy but the Browns have to use his third year to figure that out. There was the season with the suspension and the injury last season. Cleveland has to hope that the third time is the charm and it all comes together in 2024.