Cleveland Browns Co-Owner Calls Deshaun Watson Trade a 'Failed Attempt'
Three years after relinquishing a large sum of money to acquire quarterback Deshaun Watson in Cleveland, Browns co-owner Jimmy Haslam confessed on Monday that it was an error.
"We took a major risk with Deshaun," he stated at the league meeting in Palm Beach, Fla. "We believed we had our quarterback, but we were wrong, and we sacrificed numerous draft picks to obtain him. Therefore, we must work to recover from that blunder. It was a decision made by the entire organization and ultimately falls on Dee (Haslam, Jimmy's wife and co-owner of the franchise) and myself, so we must be held accountable."
In March 2022, the Browns acquired Watson from the Texans, despite the quarterback facing allegations of sexual misconduct with multiple massage therapists in the Houston area. In exchange for Watson and a 2024 sixth-round pick, Cleveland gave up first-round draft picks in 2022, 2023, and 2024, along with a 2023 third-round pick, and fourth-round picks in 2022 and 2024.
Following the trade, the Browns signed Watson, who had already been selected for three Pro Bowls, to a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract. He is still owed $92 million.
In return, Watson has amassed a 9-10 record while starting only 19 of 51 possible regular-season games due to injuries and an 11-game suspension related to the sexual assault allegations. In those games, he has completed 61.2 percent of his passes for 3,365 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
After tearing his Achilles for the second time in less than a year in January, the 29-year-old is expected to miss most or all of the 2025 season.
The Browns finally have a first-round draft pick and currently hold the No. 2 overall selection in the upcoming draft, which will take place on April 24-26 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
With only Watson and Kenny Pickett on the roster, the Browns are in need of a long-term solution at quarterback. However, Haslam stated that the team will not select a quarterback in the draft unless they believe that player is the future QB1.
"It would be ideal if we could acquire 'the quarterback,' but we will not force it," Haslam affirmed. "We will exercise patience and focus on acquiring as many talented football players as possible."
