Last season, the Cleveland Browns made the questionable move of trading for troubled and controversial quarterback Deshaun Watson in a deal with the Houston Texans.
As if trading for Watson, who was dealing with several off-the-field issues, wasn’t a bad enough look for the Browns, Cleveland didn’t hesitate to sign him to a massive contract, a fully guaranteed five-year deal worth $230 million.
After being suspended by the NFL, Watson returned to the field and played in six games for the Browns, winning three of those six games while being average on the field.
Coming into 2023, the pressure will be on Watson as he must prove he is worth that big contract, but another quarterback could face more pressure on a new team, with Aaron Rodgers playing for the New York Jets.
Although Rodgers is on the decline of his career, he was traded in the biggest market for professional sports in this country to a team built to win the Super Bowl right away with the right quarterback.
Via “Speak” on FS1, Rodgers’ former teammate James Jones believes Rodgers is under more pressure in 2023 than Watson.
,@89JonesNTAF: Aaron Rodgers is under more pressure than DeShaun Watson.
“For Aaron Rodgers, they are talking Super Bowl-or-bust out there. you are the missing piece. pic.twitter.com/1VyFOxwAZN
— Speak (@SpeakOnFS1) 20 July 2023
It’s one thing to live up to a massive, fully guaranteed $230 million contract, but it’s another to expect to win the Super Bowl in a highly competitive division and conference.
If Watson fails to live up to expectations next season, he will have one more season to prove himself in 2024.
As far as Rodgers is concerned, it’s Super Bowl or bust, everything hinges on his play to lead the team to its first title since Joe Namath won the title in 1969.
It’s pressure, and it remains to be seen whether Rodgers can handle it while playing under the bright lights of the Big Apple.
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Garrett Wilson is already discussing the Jets’ Super Bowl win