Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam admits trading a king's ransom for quarterback Deshaun Watson was a huge mistake.
The Cleveland Browns traded a king's ransom, which included three first-round picks, for quarterback Deshaun Watson in 2022. Following three frustrating years, the team is finally admitting it was a huge mistake.
On Monday, owner Jimmy Haslam confessed the trade has set his organization back several years.
"We took a big swing and miss with Deshaun," Haslam said via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. "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. (It) was an entire organization decision and it ends with Dee and I, so hold us accountable."
Watson has never played in more than seven games in any of his three seasons in Cleveland. He was suspended for 11 games in 2022 for violating the NFL's personal-conduct policy and suffered season-ending injuries in 2023 and 2024.
When Watson did play, he struggled, completing 341 of 557 passes (61.2%) for 3,365 yards, 19 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a 9-10 record.
Pittsburgh Steelers linebackers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith tackle Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson on Sept. 18, 2023. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
The Browns have since traded for former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett . It remains to be seen whether he will be Cleveland's starter in 2025, but he'll have a chance as Watson continues to recover from yet another major injury.
"He's had three horrific injuries in what, a 15 month period, right?" Haslam said. "Shoulder, tears his Achilles and re-tears his Achilles. I think the focus now is on getting him healthy and how long does that take and when can he be healthy? So that's the main thing we'd be focused on."
The Browns also own the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. So they could be looking to draft one of the top two quarterbacks in Miami 's Cam Ward and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders .
Haslam isn't ready to commit to either quite yet but hinted the addition of another rookie quarterback could be coming sooner rather than later.
"I think the message is if the right person's there, we're going to take him," Haslam said.
