SI

Browns’ Deshaun Watson Makes Public Free-Agent Pitch to Bengals WR Tee Higgins

The quarterback is trying to recruit a division rival to Cleveland.

Patrick Andres

Browns’ Deshaun Watson Makes Public Free-Agent Pitch to Bengals WR Tee Higgins
Browns’ Deshaun Watson Makes Public Free-Agent Pitch to Bengals WR Tee Higgins /
In this story:

Even accounting for the fact that the team made the playoffs in 2023, the Cleveland Browns' trade for quarterback Deshaun Watson in 2022 hasn’t gone smoothly.

Aside from the public relations nightmare associated with acquiring the quarterback, Watson also has been subpar on the field, throwing 14 touchdowns against nine interceptions in 12 games over two years.

On Friday, Watson advocated a potential remedy to his on-field struggles, lobbying for the team to sign pending free-agent wide receiver Tee Higgins, who spent the first four seasons of his career with the rival Cincinnati Bengals.

"We wanna pass the ball. That's what we're gonna do," Watson told quarterback trainer Quincy Avery on his podcast. "We're gonna pass the ball a lot."

"He ain't gotta leave the state," Avery added.

"We're gonna take good care of you,” Watson said indirectly to Higgins. “The Cleveland fans are gonna love you to death. We got the Clemson ties. We ain't get to play with each other, but this is our opportunity."

Higgins, who has two 1,000-yard seasons to his name in  four professional seasons, will hit free agency when the new league year begins on March 13.

Published
Patrick Andres
PATRICK ANDRES

Patrick Andres is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in December 2022, having worked for The Blade, Athlon Sports, Fear the Sword and Diamond Digest. Andres has covered everything from zero-attendance Big Ten basketball to a seven-overtime college football game. He is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism with a double major in history .

Home/NFL