The Cleveland Browns are obviously in the quarterback market in 2025. For the first time Monday, ownership acknowledged the mistake the organization made at the position three years ago.
That mistake -- sending three first-round picks to Houston in exchange for Deshaun Watson, whom they handed a fully guaranteed $230 million contract upon arrival -- is still sending ripples through the franchise. Cleveland has defined a revolving door under center over the last three seasons and is in its worst position regarding quarterback since the initial dalliance with Watson prompted former No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield to request a trade.
Owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam met with local media during the Annual League Meeting on Monday and candidly admitted their error.
"We took a big swing and miss with Deshaun," Jimmy Haslam told reporters, via Cleveland.com. "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. (It) was an entire organization decision and it ends with Dee and I, so hold us accountable."
The possibility of acquiring Watson was fraught with controversy well before the Browns traded for him, yet they followed through with a deal that they knew would likely come with a significant suspension for the quarterback who hadn't played football in a year and then doubled down by committing to a market-resetting, historic contract.
Quarterback salaries have moved past that mark since then, but Watson held the top spot with the most guaranteed money in NFL history until reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen signed an extension earlier this month. And it only looks worse when considering how little the Browns have received in return.
Watson missed the first 11 games of the 2022 season after he was suspended for violating the league's personal conduct policy. He then only appeared in six games in 2023 before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. This past season, Watson struggled on the field before an Achilles injury ended his season after seven games.
In all, Watson has appeared in just 19 games in three seasons for the Browns, posting a 9-10 mark with 19 touchdowns to 12 interceptions.
Cleveland now is fully prepared to find its next long-term option, but whether that comes in April's draft remains to be seen. This year's class is not considered to be nearly as strong at the position as the previous crop, and the Browns, who hold the No. 2 overall pick, might not be too eager to possibly overdraft a player solely because of his position.
"It would be great if we could get 'the quarterback,' but we're not going to force it," Haslam said, via ESPN.com. "We're going to be patient and we're going to try to accumulate as many really good football players as we can."
As of now, the Browns have two quarterbacks on their roster: Watson (who is returning from an Achilles injury that will likely cost him most of the 2025 season, if not all of it) and Kenny Pickett, whom they acquired earlier this month via trade with the Eagles. They're likely to make multiple moves at the position and are leaving all options open while understandably remaining cagey.
Among the veteran options: Kirk Cousins, who enjoyed some of his best seasons with Browns coach Kevin Stefanski calling plays for him in Minnesota, and a familiar face in Joe Flacco, the 2023 hero who went from his couch to the Browns' lineup and led them to the postseason.
Cousins is under contract with the Falcons and requires a trade to procure him. He's also an expensive backup in Atlanta and is logically the next best remaining veteran option for the Browns, especially if they don't spend the No. 2 pick on a quarterback.
Though he showed signs of his age while seesawing in and out of the starting lineup with Indianapolis last season, Flacco is "in the conversation," Haslam said on Monday.
"Doesn't mean we're going to do anything, but he's in the conversation," he said.
This is the fallout from taking the massive swing Haslam mentioned and missing so dramatically. It could also explain why Myles Garrett wanted out until a $40 million per year extension convinced him otherwise.
"Listen, Myles was frustrated last year, but hell, so are we," Haslam said, via The Athletic. "We're all frustrated, OK? And I'm glad he cares enough to be frustrated. We look forward to him being with us for a long time to come."
Garrett is locked in. The same cannot be said for quarterback, at least not for now.
