The Cleveland Browns shocked the sports world when they traded for Deshaun Watson ahead of the 2022 season. Upon acquiring him, the Browns and Watson agreed to a five-year contract with $230 million guaranteed.
This bold move for Cleveland has not worked out as the team had hoped, and Browns owner Jimmy Haslam commented on this at the NFL owners’ meetings.
Jimmy Haslam Addresses Watson Trade
“We took a big swing and miss with Deshaun,” Haslam said. “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
When trading for Watson, the Browns presumably thought they were getting one of the top quarterbacks in the league. Instead, they have gotten a player who has not replicated the Pro Bowl years he put up when in Houston and has struggled to stay on the field.
Watson has only played 19 games in three seasons since being acquired by the Browns. He missed his first 11 games due to suspension and suffered season-ending injuries in the two subsequent seasons. Watson could also potentially miss the entire 2025 season after he re-ruptured the Achilles that ended his 2024 season in January of 2025.
In three seasons with Cleveland, Watson has completed 61.2% of his passes for 3,365 yards, 19 touchdown passes, and 12 interceptions. He also has 11 fumbles and has been sacked 70 times.
In 2025, Watson completed 63.4% of his passes for 1,148 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions. He ranked as the No. 39 quarterback in PFSN’s QB+ metric with a 44.3 (F) score.
Cleveland is 9-10 with Watson under center and has been heavily linked to adding a quarterback ahead of the 2025 season.
What Are Cleveland’s Options at QB in 2025?
Cleveland traded Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for Kenny Pickett at the start of the 2025 offseason.
As things stand, Pickett could be the starting quarterback for the Browns to open the season. The former University of Pittsburgh standout was a first-round pick by the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022. Pickett did not live up to the hype with the Steelers and spent only two seasons with the team before being traded to the Eagles to back up Jalen Hurts.
A change of scenery could benefit Pickett, as he potentially competes for the starting job with the Browns. However, despite acquiring Pickett, that has not removed the Browns from quarterback rumors.
The team still has Watson under contract though, and the financial commitment to Watson could hinder the team’s ability to make moves. Watson has a $36,936,678 cap hit in 2025, a large number for a player presumably not part of the team’s plans.
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Cleveland has been linked to Kirk Cousins due to his connection to head coach Kevin Stefanski. Stefanski was Cousins’ offensive coordinator in Minnesota before taking the head coaching job in Cleveland.
However, Cousins has three years remaining on his contract with the Falcons. Atlanta presumably would have to eat a significant chunk of the contract to move him, which could make the team a match. But, if Cousins is the answer, the Browns may have to wait until after the NFL Draft to acquire him.
The team has also been heavily linked to Shedeur Sanders in the NFL Draft, with many expecting Cam Ward to go first overall to the Titans. “The Cleveland Browns are very impressed with Shedeur Sanders,” said ESPN analyst Pat McAfee.
Sanders holds the FBS record for career completion percentage and would inject life into Cleveland’s quarterback room while not financially costing the team too much.
While Haslam has acknowledged that the trade was a “big swing and miss,” its effects are still impacting the team today. They will have to navigate Watson’s contract while looking to field a competitive team in 2025.