The Cleveland Browns have finally admitted that the Deshaun Watson era has been an unmitigated disaster.
Browns co-owner Jimmy Haslam called the trade for Watson — where Cleveland gave up three first-round picks to the Houston Texans and then signed the controversial QB to a fully guaranteed $230 million contract — a “big swing-and-miss.”
“We took a big swing-and-miss with Deshaun,” Haslam told reporters Monday at the league’s annual meeting, including ESPN’s 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 [Haslam] and I, so hold us accountable.”
The Browns decided to hitch their wagon to Watson in 2022 despite him being accused of sexual assault and sexual misconduct by over two dozen massage therapists while in Houston. Watson has reached settlements with many of them, though no criminal charges were filed.
Since arriving in Cleveland, Watson has been one of the worst quarterbacks in the league. He’s appeared in just 19 games during that time due to injuries and an 11-game suspension, including back-to-back seasons in 2023 and 2024 cut short by season-ending injuries. He’s expected to miss significant time in 2025 after re-rupturing his Achilles tendon in the offseason.
Watson’s record stands at a mediocre 9-10, with 3,365 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He’s also been sacked 70 times in those limited appearances.
With the Browns holding the second-overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, many wonder if they’ll select a franchise quarterback to replace their failed investment.
NFL Draft insider projects Cleveland Browns will take QB in second round
Tyler Shough, Cleveland Browns
Credit: Matt Stone/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
ESPN’s Field Yates projects the Browns will take a franchise quarterback — not with their No. 2 pick, but with the first selection of the second round at No. 33. He has Cleveland selecting Louisville’s Tyler Shough.
“After skipping the quarterbacks at No. 2, Cleveland can open Day 2 by taking the talented Shough. He has an impressive arm and moves well, leading to 23 touchdown throws last season. He could compete with Kenny Pickett to start with Deshaun Watson sidelined,” wrote Yates.
The 25-year-old Shough played for three different colleges over seven years — Oregon, Texas Tech, and Louisville. In his final year with the Cardinals, he threw for 3,195 yards with 23 touchdowns and six interceptions, completing 62.7% of his passes. For his collegiate career, he accumulated 7,820 yards, 59 touchdowns, 23 interceptions, and a 63% completion percentage.
NFL.com rates Shough as a “good backup with the potential to develop into a starter.”
Pickett, whom the Browns traded for in the offseason, is currently the only quarterback on Cleveland’s roster outside of Watson.