The Cleveland Browns made a blockbuster trade for quarterback Deshaun Watson in March, but since then the team has not known when he would be able to make his first appearance for them while an investigation into potential breaches of the NFL’s personal-conduct policy took place. The NFL was understood to be pushing for a full-season suspension for the former Texans star, who sat out the entire 2021 season in a contract dispute, but former U.S. District Judge Sue L. Robinson has ruled that Watson must serve a 6-game suspension. The NFLPA had already stated they would not appeal against the verdict, but the NFL has 3 days to do so if it wishes.
The absence of certainty on Watson’s availability made it difficult for sportsbooks and bettors alike to assess the Browns’ chances in 2022 after they took the decision to move on from Baker Mayfield and send a huge package of draft picks, including 3 first-rounders, to the Texans for Watson. Now, however, we can look at the Browns’ odds with the knowledge that Watson will not be around for the first 6 weeks of the season, but could return to lead Kevin Stefanski’s offense from late October onwards. Let’s take a look at the updated odds.
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Cleveland Browns Super Bowl odds after Deshaun Watson suspension
The expected suspension of Watson was already baked into the Browns’ Super Bowl odds to some extent, but the suspension of ‘only’ 6 games has led FanDuel Sportsbook to move Cleveland’s odds from 28/1 to 22/1 to win the Super Bowl this season, with the option of a full-year suspension having apparently been avoided. In a similar move, DraftKings Sportsbook brought the Browns’ odds down from 30/1 to 25/1.