Browns Myles Garrett watch - UPDATE - TRADED TO RAMS

[Martin Eden]

I didn’t leave it out. That was obviously part of the risk. But risk and value are not the same thing.

The scandal, time away, and pending suspension are why the deal was controversial. They are not proof that Watson had no market value. If anything, the fact that Cleveland still had to give up three 1sts tells you what the league thought his QB value was at the time. Teams weren’t bidding on a random reclamation project. They were bidding on a 26-year-old quarterback who had already played at a Pro Bowl/franchise QB level. Was there massive risk? Absolutely. Was it a clean, simple deal? No.

But the compensation was still based on the caliber of player Watson had proven to be at the most valuable position in football. The baggage affected the deal. It didn’t eliminate the value.

The baggage most certainly affected the value. And there's no evidence any other team offered close to what the Browns paid for him. The end result, and every factor matters, is the worst trade in NFL history.

 

[The_QCT]

The baggage most certainly affected the value. And there's no evidence any other team offered close to what the Browns paid for him. The end result, and every factor matters, is the worst trade in NFL history.

I never said the baggage didn’t affect the value. I said it didn’t eliminate the value. In fact, you’re making my point for me.

If the baggage, suspension risk, public backlash, and nearly two years away from football all drove his value down, and Houston still got three 1sts plus additional picks, what does that tell you about how valuable teams viewed a 26-year-old franchise quarterback at the time?

We know the Falcons offered the same compensation for Watson. The differentiator that caused Watson to choose Cleveland over Atlanta was that Haslam fully guaranteed his entire contract... there was no difference in compensation to the team.

As for it being the worst trade in NFL history, that’s hindsight talking. Looking at the results today, you can absolutely make that argument. But that’s a completely different discussion than whether the compensation made sense based on what Watson was at the time. Those are two separate arguments, and you keep trying to blend them together.

 

[The Haymaker]

Well if we trade Ward... We might be rebuilding...

Still the best D in the AFC North... Schwesinger and Graham are gonna wreak havoc..

this post will age well,like a fine wine.see you back here come DEC.

 

[The_QCT]

Well if we trade Ward... We might be rebuilding...

That depends on compensation.

Getting Verse back in the Myles deals tells you that the Browns are not rebuilding... they are in win now mode. If they get another young stud back for Ward in a deal, then that tells you the same thing.

 

[Martin Eden]

I never said the baggage didn’t affect the value. I said it didn’t eliminate the value. In fact, you’re making my point for me.

If the baggage, suspension risk, public backlash, and nearly two years away from football all drove his value down, and Houston still got three 1sts plus additional picks, what does that tell you about how valuable teams viewed a 26-year-old franchise quarterback at the time?

We know the Falcons offered the same compensation for Watson. The differentiator that caused Watson to choose Cleveland over Atlanta was that Haslam fully guaranteed his entire contract... there was no difference in compensation to the team.

As for it being the worst trade in NFL history, that’s hindsight talking. Looking at the results today, you can absolutely make that argument. But that’s a completely different discussion than whether the compensation made sense based on what Watson was at the time. Those are two separate arguments, and you keep trying to blend them together.

It shows how valuable we thought he was. Doesn't say a word about other teams. Clearly, Watson was free to choose where he wanted to go and the Texans took us to the cleaners. My opinion is no other team was willing to give up what we were - in terms of money and draft picks. And I don't think Watson had any interest in making his time with the Browns successful other than him cashing checks.

 

[The_QCT]

It shows how valuable we thought he was. Doesn't say a word about other teams. Clearly, Watson was free to choose where he wanted to go and the Texans took us to the cleaners. My opinion is no other team was willing to give up what we were - in terms of money and draft picks. And I don't think Watson had any interest in making his time with the Browns successful other than him cashing checks.

You're entitled to that opinion, but now we're moving from facts to assumptions.

That facts are that multiple teams were interested in Watson, multiple teams met with Watson, and Cleveland ultimately had to offer a fully guaranteed contract to land him. That is not what happens when you are the only bidder. We also know for a fact that the Falcons had the same deal on the table as it relates to draft compensation, but Blank balked at the fully guaranteed contract. Again facts... not assumptions or speculation.

As for the "he never cared about making it work in Cleveland" argument, there is zero evidence of that. You can question his play. You can question whether he is physically the same player. You can question the trade. That's all fair. But you aren't a mind reader and can't read his mind.

Occam's razor - the much simpler explanation - is that he got suspended, missed football for nearly two years, suffered multiple major injuries and played poorly. That doesn't mean he didn't care or wasn't trying to be successful. It simply means he failed.

There is a huge difference between "he couldn't get back to who he was" and "he never cared". One is supported by evidence. The other is just frustration talking.

 

[The Haymaker]

So..If jim schwartz was the HC of the CB's in '26 MG isn't leading this team
to a mother loving SB?

like I said at the time. these guys are "natural enemies"
the mongoose & the mamba don't get a flat together. he had no choice.sux for TCB's...

 

[Martin Eden]

You're entitled to that opinion, but now we're moving from facts to assumptions.

That facts are that multiple teams were interested in Watson, multiple teams met with Watson, and Cleveland ultimately had to offer a fully guaranteed contract to land him. That is not what happens when you are the only bidder. We also know for a fact that the Falcons had the same deal on the table as it relates to draft compensation, but Blank balked at the fully guaranteed contract. Again facts... not assumptions or speculation.

As for the "he never cared about making it work in Cleveland" argument, there is zero evidence of that. You can question his play. You can question whether he is physically the same player. You can question the trade. That's all fair. But you aren't a mind reader and can't read his mind.

Occam's razor - the much simpler explanation - is that he got suspended, missed football for nearly two years, suffered multiple major injuries and played poorly. That doesn't mean he didn't care or wasn't trying to be successful. It simply means he failed.

There is a huge difference between "he couldn't get back to who he was" and "he never cared". One is supported by evidence. The other is just frustration talking.

He never even tried to be a leader of this team.

 

[nickers]

You’re moving the goalposts.

First, you compared the compensation received for Garrett to the compensation paid for Watson. Now you’re saying you were only comparing them because they were both former 1st-round picks and their value at the time. Okay… but that actually proves my point.

If you’re comparing their value at the time, then position matters because QB and DE don’t carry the same value in the NFL marketplace. A franchise quarterback will always command significantly more compensation than a franchise defensive end. That’s why teams routinely give up multiple 1sts for quarterbacks and almost never do it for defensive ends.

And let’s not pretend draft position is the determining factor here. Plenty of former 1st-round picks get traded for Day 3 picks every year. Teams pay for what a player is worth at the time of the trade, not where he was drafted years earlier.

So if your argument is based on their value at the time, you’ve just circled right back to my original point.

Whatever you say Jr...