Browns owner Jimmy Haslam’s admission all but slams the door shut on Deshaun Watson playing again for Cleveland
When you take big swings there is a chance you’re going to miss big and that is exactly what happened for the Cleveland Browns with the Deshaun Watson trade. The Browns made what was the worst trade in NFL history when they sent three first-round draft selections, along with a third-round pick, and two fourth-round […]
When you take big swings there is a chance you’re going to miss big and that is exactly what happened for the Cleveland Browns with the Deshaun Watson trade.
The Browns made what was the worst trade in NFL history when they sent three first-round draft selections, along with a third-round pick, and two fourth-round picks to the Houston Texans for Watson. Cleveland followed that up by guaranteeing $230 million to Watson.
Fast forward three years and the Browns appear to be waiting for the moment they can financially part ways with Watson. Multiple season-ending injuries and the suspension dampened any chances of Watson working out with the Browns.
Browns owner Jimmy Haslam finally says what everyone knew about the Deshaun Watson trade
“We took a big swing and miss with Deshaun,” Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said on Monday, via Daniel Oyefusu of ESPN. “We thought we had the quarterback, we didn't and we gave up a lot of draft picks to get him. So we've got to dig ourselves out of that hole. (The trade) was an entire organization decision and it ends with Dee and I, so hold us accountable.”
There is likely no coming back from this in terms of Watson playing for Cleveland again. After re-injuring the Achilles, Watson is unlikely to be active during the 2025 season and the soonest he could get back on the field is the 2026 season. Watson is under contract through the 2026 season, but the Browns could choose to eat the dead money and release him next offseason.
In three seasons with the Browns, Watson has played in just 19 games with the Browns. Watson has 19 touchdown passes to 12 interceptions to go along with 3,365 passing yards. He only completed 61 percent of his passes with the Browns, as well. Even when the former Clemson standout was on the field, he wasn’t worth the trade that the Browns made.
The hole that Cleveland is in now is due to not having a franchise quarterback. Cleveland reached the playoffs in 2023 while starting five different quarterbacks that season. The team fell flat last year with a 3-14 record and now pick No. 2 overall in next month's draft as a result.
While the door isn’t officially shut, there is no reason to believe that Watson will suit up for the Browns again after Haslam’s latest admission.
