Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam is taking full responsibility for what is now widely regarded as the single worst trade in NFL history.
Of course, I’m referring to the team’s blockbuster deal for controversial quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Speaking to reporters at the NFL’s annual league meeting, Haslam acknowledged the disastrous impact of trading three first-round picks, a third-rounder, and two fourth-rounders to the Houston Texans for Watson.
On top of that, Cleveland handed Watson the most lucrative guaranteed contract in league history, a move that has severely hampered the franchise’s future.
“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 organization decision and it ends with Dee and I, so hold us accountable,” Haslam said.
Haslam’s rare moment of public accountability underscores the dire situation the Browns find themselves in.
Watson, who has struggled both on and off the field since arriving in Cleveland, is unlikely to play in 2025.
A torn Achilles has sidelined him, but even before the injury, his performances on the field were horrendous – raising serious questions about his future with the team.
With limited draft capital and a salary cap weighed down by Watson’s massive contract, the Browns now face an uphill battle.
Haslam, for his part, is placing his trust in the team’s football operations department to correct the course.
However, as the franchise attempts to recover from this colossal misstep, one thing is clear: Cleveland’s gamble on Watson was a failure, and the consequences will linger for years to come.
What are your thoughts on Haslam’s admission? … Do you agree the Watson trade and contract are the worst in NFL history???
