PALM BEACH, Fla. — Cleveland Browns co-owner Jimmy Haslam on Monday known as the workforce’s commerce for quarterback Deshaun Watson a “massive swing-and-miss.”
In March 2022, Cleveland acquired Watson from the Houston Texans in a commerce bundle that included three first-round picks. The Browns then signed Watson to a $230 million contract that was absolutely assured.
Since becoming a member of the Browns, Watson has began simply 19 video games due to suspension and accidents, posted one of many lowest Whole QBRs within the NFL and suffered consecutive season-ending accidents in 2023 and 2024.
“We took an enormous swing-and-miss with Deshaun,” Haslam stated Monday on the league’s annual assembly. “We thought we had the quarterback; we did not. And we gave up numerous draft picks to get him, so we have got to dig ourselves out of that gap.
“… [The trade] was a whole group choice and it ends with Dee [Haslam] and I, so maintain us accountable.”
Watson, a three-time Professional Bowl choice with the Texans, tore his proper Achilles tendon in October and underwent a second operation in January after retearing his Achilles. The Browns stated Watson is anticipated to overlook a good portion of the 2025 season.
His authorized troubles have helped to derail his profession in Cleveland. Watson served an 11-game suspension in 2022 after greater than two dozen ladies accused him of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct throughout therapeutic massage periods. A pair of Texas grand juries declined to pursue legal fees in opposition to Watson, however he served his suspension after the NFL and the NFL Gamers Affiliation reached a settlement on his self-discipline.
Cleveland nonetheless owes Watson $46 million in every of the subsequent two seasons.
The Browns’ quarterback room presently consists of Watson and Kenny Pickett, whom the workforce traded for in mid-March. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski stated Pickett will get a chance to compete to start out in 2025.
Regardless of the admission that the Watson commerce was unsuccessful, Haslam stated the workforce shouldn’t be tied to taking a quarterback with the second general choose within the 2025 NFL draft.
“It might be nice if we may get ‘the quarterback,’ however we’re not going to power it,” Haslam stated. “We will be affected person and we will attempt to accumulate as many truly good soccer gamers as we will.”
