Browns owner: We're still recovering from 'swing and miss' on Watson trade

Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam acknowledged the team made a mistake trading for Deshaun Watson in 2022.

"We took a big swing and miss with Deshaun," Haslam told the media Monday, according to 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 and I, so hold us accountable."

Watson is still under contract in Cleveland through the 2027 season. The five-year, $230-million fully guaranteed contract he signed immediately after arriving in Cleveland carries cap hits of $36.9 million in 2025 and $81.6 million in 2026, according to Spotrac. Cleveland gave the Houston Texans a massive haul to acquire Watson, which included three first-round picks.

The 29-year-old has failed to live up to expectations, going 9-10 in 19 starts over the last three seasons while throwing for just 3,365 yards with 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He was also suspended for the first 11 games of his first campaign in Cleveland due to an investigation into sexual harassment allegations.

Watson ranks 32nd in EPA/play and success rate among the 33 quarterbacks who've played at least 750 snaps since 2022, according to Ben Baldwin's database.

The Clemson product suffered a torn Achilles in October and had surgery in January after re-tearing it while recovering from the initial injury. It's unknown if he'll be able to suit up for the 2025 season.

The Browns traded for Kenny Pickett in March, and he's the only other signal-caller currently on their roster. Cleveland holds the No. 2 pick in the 2025 draft after going 3-14 last season.