The Cleveland Browns’ decision to trade a significant amount of assets to bring in Deshaun Watson has aged about as poorly as it possibly could have. And after just three years with the organization, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam is willing to admit that the move was a mistake.
In his time in Cleveland, Watson has not only been inconsistent when he has been able to take the field, but has also dealt with a litany of injuries that have prevented him from taking the field with any regularity. Most recently, Watson ruptured his right achilles again in January, which is expected to hold him out of the upcoming 2025 NFL season.
It seems as if his time as a starter in Cleveland has come to an end with rumors that the Browns are looking at drafting a quarterback of the future in the 2025 NFL Draft. Amidst these rumors, Haslam decided to speak candidly about the decision to trade for Watson, which he is taking full accountability for.
“We took a big swing and miss with Deshaun,” said Haslam via ESPN Browns beat reporter Daniel Oyefusi. “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.”
Browns owner Jimmy Haslam on the team’s trade for Deshaun Watson: “We took a big swing and miss with Deshaun. 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…
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) March 31, 2025
It’s incredibly rare to see a team owner speak so openly about a trade for a player being a mistake while said player is still on the roster. Although, it seems as if Watson is still on the roster only in name, as it would be an utter shock to ever see Watson take another snap in the NFL as a member of the Browns again.
Credit to Haslam for finally owning up to the decision to trade for Watson. But in the same breath, this is something that Browns fans have been saying for quite some time now. So perhaps this admission from Haslam is too little, too late, in terms of taking ownership of the monumental error he made.