Browns rumors: Deshaun Watson adds fuel to DeAndre Hopkins buzz

Could a pair of former teammates reunite in Cleveland? Talented wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins remains unsigned at the moment, so…

The last time they were together on the field, the Houston Texans owned a 24-0 second-quarter lead at Kansas City in the 2019 AFC Divisional Playoffs.

Quarterback Deshaun Watson would throw for 388 yards and two scores and also ran six times for 37 yards and one touchdown. Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins would finish with nine catches for 118 yards. However, both of those performances came in a losing effort as the eventual Super Bowl LIV champion Chiefs came all the way back for a 51-31 victory.

In 2020, Hopkins was unexpectedly sent to the Arizona Cardinals in a highly controversial trade. It would prove to be a forgettable season for the Texans, who plummeted to 4-12 despite a year in which Watson led the NFL with 4,823 yards passing.

NFL Rumors: Could DeAndre Hopkins sign with the Browns?

Last week, Hopkins was released by the Cardinals after three seasons with the franchise. The organization attempted to deal the star wideout but there were no takers. Of course, a certain talented quarterback who now plays for the Cleveland Browns had some thoughts on the matter.

A reunion of these former Texans teammates would be a major coup for Kevin Stefanski’s team, which is looking to rebound from a last-place finish.

As for Watson, he already appears to be feeling better from where he was less than a year ago. He served an 11-game suspension after being to the Browns last year. It’s a different story so far in 2023.

“Honestly, it’s night and day,” he said last week. “Last year, it was just a whirlwind, but it was a good learning lesson for myself and for me to be able to grow. Coming in this year, I’m ahead of the game from where I was previously.”

The Browns could also be ahead of the game if the team is able to land Hopkins. Reunited and it would feel so good for Stefanski’s club.