Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam finally expressed regret for the failure of the Deshaun Watson trade as they continue to battle poor results.
Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam fell in love with Deshaun Watson’s spell at the Houston Texans so much that he and Dee Haslam gave away a fortune to their AFC counterpart in 2021. Watson was supposed to be the quarterback to save the Browns from their purgatory until everything went south.
The 29-year-old has found himself embroiled in controversy and injury ever since moving from Texas. In four seasons, Watson only started 19 games in total, posting just an 80 quarterback rating during that time.
The Browns saw a ray of hope near the end of the 2024-25 season, but Watson suffered an Achilles tear in January this year while vacationing. The doctors ruled him out until mid-December. He will more or less miss out on 90% of the regular season unless a miracle happens.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Haslam, along with general manager Andrew Berry, was in Miami over the weekend to attend the annual NFL owners’ meeting. Reporters didn’t waste much time and asked about the Browns quarterback situation and Deshaun Watson’s time in Cleveland.
We [the Cleveland Browns] took a big swing and miss with Deshaun’s [Watson’s trade]. 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 [Haslam] and I, so hold us accountable.
Jimmy Haslam said via Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot
Texans won the Deshaun Watson trade
The Texans were the beneficiary of Watson’s deal. By sending the 3x Pro Bowler to Cleveland, the Texans received the Browns’ first-round draft picks in 2022, 2023, and 2024, as well as their third-round pick in 2023 and fourth-round picks in 2022 and 2024.
Unlike the Browns, the Texans were smart about their approach. Watson’s trade meant they no longer had to bear the $41 million per year salary baggage through his four-year, $177.5 million deal in 2020.
On top of it, the Texans used the draft picks to create a strong team.
Meanwhile, the Browns were in a downward spiral. Besides giving up so many picks, they agreed to a five-year, $230 million guaranteed deal with Deshaun Watson (the most guaranteed money to a player in NFL history).
