Cleveland Browns co-owner Jimmy Haslam was candid on Monday, reflecting on the massive gamble they took on quarterback Deshaun Watson, which he bluntly termed a “big swing-and-miss.”
Back in March 2022, the Browns drew attention by acquiring Watson from the Houston Texans, surrendering three first-round draft picks in the process. They then shook the league by signing Watson to an unprecedented $230 million contract, fully guaranteed.
Fast forward to today, Watson has managed to start only 19 games for the Browns. His time on the field has been limited due to both suspensions and injuries, and his performance has been less than stellar, with one of the lowest Total QBRs in the league. To make matters worse, Watson has endured two consecutive season-ending injuries in the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
“We took a big swing-and-miss with Deshaun,” Haslam said during the league’s annual meeting. “We thought we had secured our quarterback, but we didn’t. Plus, we gave away a lot in terms of draft picks to make that happen, so now we’re in a position where we have to dig ourselves out.”
He further emphasized, “[The trade] was a collective decision made by the entire organization, and ultimately the responsibility lies with Dee [Haslam] and me, so hold us accountable.”
Watson, celebrated as a three-time Pro Bowl pick during his tenure with the Texans, faced another setback when he tore his right Achilles tendon last October, needing a second surgery in January after a retear. The Browns now anticipate that Watson will miss a significant portion of the upcoming 2025 season.
Watson’s time in Cleveland has also been overshadowed by ongoing legal challenges. He served an 11-game suspension in 2022 following accusations of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct by over two dozen women during massage appointments. While two Texas grand juries opted not to file criminal charges, Watson’s suspension was part of a settlement agreed upon by the NFL and the NFL Players Association concerning his misconduct.
Despite these issues, the Browns are obligated to pay Watson a hefty $46 million each for the next two seasons.
As it stands, the Browns’ lineup at quarterback includes Watson and Kenny Pickett, who was traded to the team in mid-March. According to Browns coach Kevin Stefanski, Pickett will have the chance to compete for the starting position in the 2025 season.
Acknowledging the Watson trade’s shortcomings, Haslam mentioned that although the team isn’t locked into selecting a quarterback with their second overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft, the prospect remains open.
“It would be ideal if we could land ‘the quarterback,’ but we’re not going to rush into it,” Haslam stated. “We’ll be patient and focus on gathering as many exceptional football players as we can.”
