Browns co-owner admits ‘massive swing-and-miss’ with Deshaun Watson
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Daniel Oyefusi
PALM BEACH, Fla. — Cleveland Browns co-owner Jimmy Haslam on Monday referred to as the staff’s commerce for quarterback Deshaun Watson a “massive swing-and-miss.”
In March 2022, Cleveland acquired Watson from the Houston Texans in a commerce package deal that included three first-round picks. The Browns then signed Watson to a $230 million contract that was totally 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 mentioned Monday on the league’s annual assembly. “We thought we had the quarterback; we did not. And we gave up a whole lot of draft picks to get him, so we have to dig ourselves out of that gap.
“… [The trade] was a whole group determination 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 mentioned Watson is predicted 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 felony prices 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 following two seasons.
The Browns’ quarterback room at present consists of Watson and Kenny Pickett, whom the staff traded for in mid-March. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski mentioned Pickett will get a chance to compete to begin in 2025.
Regardless of the admission that the Watson commerce was unsuccessful, Haslam mentioned the staff just isn’t tied to taking a quarterback with the second general decide within the 2025 NFL draft.
“It might be nice if we may get ‘the quarterback,’ however we’re not going to pressure it,” Haslam mentioned. “We’ll be affected person and we’ll attempt to accumulate as many actually good soccer gamers as we are able to.”
