In an article published on Friday, ESPN sports analytics writer Seth Walder shockingly suggested that the Cleveland Browns should acquire quarterback Justin Fields from the Chicago Bears via a trade that essentially would spark the beginning of the end of Deshaun Watson serving as Cleveland’s QB1.

“This is a wild one, I know,” Walder acknowledged in the piece. “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 (Cleveland head coach) Kevin Stefanski’s offense.”

There’s a lot to unpack here.

Opinions about the numerous allegations of sexual misconduct during massage sessions that have hovered over Watson’s status for years aside, Browns general manager Andrew Berry defended landing Watson via the controversial trade with the Houston Texans as recently as last month. While the Browns technically could afford to trade Watson this offseason, it seems unlikely they would relegate the 28-year-old who signed a fully guaranteed five-year, $230M contract in March 2022 to backup duties just to start an unproven commodity such as Fields.

Individuals from ESPN, CBS and other outlets repeatedly predict the Bears will grab USC Trojans star signal-caller Caleb Williams with this year’s first overall draft pick, in part because Fields failed to cement himself as a long-term NFL starter across the past three seasons. It’s also worth noting that quarterback-needy teams such as the Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers have been linked in stories with Fields and theoretically could outbid Cleveland to trade for Fields’ services.

Neither Berry nor Stefanski has given any indication the Browns would even consider moving on from Watson, who played in fewer than 12 full games with Cleveland over the past two campaigns. It’s instead more likely that Berry will hope new offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey can help Watson return to the form that made him a three-time Pro Bowl selection with Houston assuming Watson gives the Browns more than a handful of starts next season.