The Cleveland Browns tried making Deshaun Watson work, even after it was very clear that the team had made a franchise-changing error in trading for him.
Watson was terrible for the Browns, on the field and off the field. He suffered season-ending injuries, but between that he simply did not play well. His Browns career started with an 11-game suspension after multiple accusations of sexual misconduct, which brought shame to the organization. But the Browns kept starting him, even last season when it was clear he was perhaps the worst starter in the NFL. That sometimes happens when you invest too much in a player and feel the need to see a return on investment.
Finally, the Browns seem to be admitting defeat. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam met with the media at the league’s annual spring meetings and said the Watson trade was a mistake.
Haslam called the Watson trade “a big swing and a miss” and said the franchise is still recovering, via multiple reporters.
No one will dispute what Haslam is saying. Not only did the Browns trade multiple first round picks for Watson, they also guaranteed him a $230 million contract. It has been a complete failure and as Haslam noted, the Browns are now trying to pick up the pieces and recover from it.
They have the second pick of the NFL Draft but haven’t committed to taking a quarterback. Jimmy Haslam said Monday the team wouldn’t force it if they don’t believe in a quarterback available at No. 2, saying it could take a year or two to figure out the quarterback plan. The Browns did sign Kenny Pickett, and he would be an option to start.
