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NFL teams make bad decisions all of the time. Some come in the form of coaching moves, like the Philadelphia Eagles hiring Kevin Patullo last year, or in the form of trades, like the many infamous deals over the years in NFL history. But when it comes to contracts, the Cleveland Browns might have reign of the league's worst contract ever, and it's obviously with quarterback Deshaun Watson on his fully guaranteed $230 million deal. Garrett Podell of CBS Sports called the Watson contract the "worst in NFL history," and for good reason. Watson has been terrible since that deal and has missed a lot of time as well. It's set the franchise back a lot and has just been a complete disaster. Deshaun Watson's $230M contract is worst in NFL history "Deshaun Watson's five-year, $230 million contract, fully guaranteed, is the worst contract in NFL history," Podell writes. "... There may never be an NFL contract this depressing for generations to come." There are plenty of terrible contracts in the NFL right now, regardless of position. But the Miami Dolphins' deal for Tua Tagovailoa deserves mention, as it's a horrendous deal that's left the team with $100 million or so in dead cap hits. And yet, that nine-figure mistake hardly compares to the horrendous $230 million contract for Watson. No deal in league history can really compare, and there might not be another deal that comes close either. For one, a fully guaranteed contract in the NFL is a terrible decision when it's at such a large scale. It leaves no room to maneuver down the road. Even the best players won't get this fully guaranteed deal. MORE: Browns' Shedeur Sanders explains bad turnover against Bears Watson has played in 19 games for the Browns since the 2022 season, and his massive new contract was agreed to. He's missed most of the year every year he's been with the Browns, including missing all of last season due to an Achilles injury. Podell points out how the browns have spent "an astounding $9.6 million per start over the length of his deal as it enters its last year in 2026." The issue is that even when he's starting, he's not even playing well. Watson has a 9-10 record with Cleveland and has a weak 80.7 passer rating with the Browns. His quarterback rating (QBR) dropped all of the way down to 21.0 in 2024 for easily the worst mark of his career, nearly one-third of the worst season he had with the Houston Texans (61.8 QBR). In the long history of the NFL, this Watson contract might be the worst one ever signed. Teams have learned from this major mistake, and the $230 million five-year deal for Watson might stand the test of time as the single worst contract in NFL history. More NFL news: - Vikings lose Jamal Adams to brutal season-ending injury - Cowboys sign 8-time Pro Bowl pass rusher, 2-time Super Bowl champion Von Miller - Seahawks 2nd-round S Bud Clark gets bad news on starting job for Week 1 - Ja'Kobi Lane's breakout might be real after impressive Ravens preseason debut - Will George Kittle be ready for Week 1? 49ers TE explains why he has 'chance' to play vs. Rams