SI

Browns Owner Cops to 'Swing and Miss' on Deshaun Watson Trade

The deal is frequently listed among the worst in sports history.

Patrick Andres

Jimmy Haslam watches warm-ups before a Browns game against the Ravens.
Jimmy Haslam watches warm-ups before a Browns game against the Ravens. / Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
In this story:

Three years have now passed since the Cleveland Browns acquired quarterback Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans, a deal then and now ranked among the worst in the history of sports. The trade has left the Browns destitute (and their public image tarnished), Watson injured several times over, and the Texans AFC contenders.

On Monday, in an uncharacteristic moment of self-awareness, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam offered a candid assessment of the trade—and, to a degree, owned up to his own part in it.

"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," Haslam said.

Watson was suspended the first 11 games of his Cleveland career due to sexual assault allegations against him, and has suffered two straight season-ending injuries—not including a January re-tear of his Achilles tendon.

When healthy, he has thrown 19 touchdowns against 12 interceptions—a far cry from his Pro Bowl days with the Texans.

More NFL on Sports Illustrated

feed

Published
Patrick Andres
PATRICK ANDRES

Patrick Andres is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in December 2022, having worked for The Blade, Athlon Sports, Fear the Sword and Diamond Digest. Andres has covered everything from zero-attendance Big Ten basketball to a seven-overtime college football game. He is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism with a double major in history .

Home/NFL