Browns QB Deshaun Watson fires back at owner Jimmy Haslam after degrading comments

The Cleveland Browns continue their pursuit for a franchise quarterback – a search that very well may culminate at this month’s 2025 NFL Draft. While their roster currently features Kenny Pickett, they still need to fill out the rest of the room.

One thing that is very evident is that Deshaun Watson’s time with the Browns is surely ending soon. If it was obvious before, it was made blatant by team owner Jimmy Haslam in recent comments he made about the $230 million quarterback.

“We took a big swing and miss with Deshaun,” Haslam said. “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 [Haslam] and I, so hold us accountable.”

Watson responded to these comments on Instagram in a post featuring several photos of himself training,

“Maybe, If I weren’t built for this, I’d let it phase me,” Watson said.

Watson has 19 touchdowns in three seasons with the Browns, and has played in just 19 of a possible 52 games (including playoffs) due to suspension and injuries.