The Cleveland Browns have several questions to answer before the start of the 2025 season. Some of those answers will come during the upcoming NFL Draft, with the team holding onto the number two overall pick.
With so much on his plate, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam didn’t mince words when discussing a huge franchise move that didn’t pan out—one that involved quarterback Deshaun Watson and a troublesome journey since acquiring him.
Three years ago, the Browns attempted to find their future quarterback. They chose to trade for Deshaun Watson. They sent three first-round draft picks to the Houston Texans and handed over a whopping $230 million, fully guaranteed contract.
Watson has since been a shell of his former self. Not only has he faced over 20 sexual assault allegations, causing him to be suspended for 11 games, but he’s also been unreliable. After his suspension, Watson played in just six games the following year.
In 2024, he played only seven games before tearing his Achilles. To make matters worse, he re-ruptured his Achilles, likely keeping him out of the 2025 campaign. When he could play, he helped Cleveland go 9-10 while throwing 19 touchdowns compared to 12 interceptions. Simply put, he wasn’t worth the trade compensation nor the money he was guaranteed.
They parted ways with Baker Mayfield not long after. The former number one overall pick requested a trade following news of the Watson trade. Cleveland felt that Mayfield wasn’t mature enough to lead the team, making it even easier to ship him off and ride with Watson.
Both Cleveland owners, Jimmy and Dee Haslam, recently met with the media to discuss various topics. Throughout their session, the conversation drifted to Deshaun Watson and the possibilities of them drafting a quarterback with the number two overall selection.
Jimmy Haslam said, “We took a big swing and miss with Deshaun. We thought we had the quarterback, but 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 isn’t every day that you hear an owner openly denounce a team’s current starting quarterback, but with Watson potentially out for the entire season, it seems like their partnership is over. Watson might have played his last snap for the Browns organization already.
These recent comments by Jimmy Haslam suggest that the team may be looking to acquire a new quarterback. That appears to be the best course of action for them, though they want to stack talent overall, even if that means skipping out on a quarterback in the draft this year.
Haslam mentioned that he wants the team to accumulate as many strong players as possible, even if that means not drafting a signal caller like Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward. This adds fuel to the fire that Cleveland is targeting either edge rusher Abdul Carter or wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter with their top pick.
Since the Browns officially acquired Deshaun Watson, it felt like a disaster waiting to happen. Cleveland waited years for a franchise quarterback, drafting Baker Mayfield, and saw more success with him than in the decade prior, only to part ways with him quickly.
It feels poetic justice that Watson and Cleveland didn’t work out, as the Browns got greedy in finding the “perfect” quarterback. Now, Mayfield has had some of the best seasons of his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, helping them reach the postseason in multiple seasons.
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