The Cleveland Browns decided to trade for Deshaun Watson in a deal with the Houston Texans just a few years ago. The trade sent three first-round picks to the Texans for Watson, a decision that clearly wasn’t the right one.
It’s been an unfortunate situation for the Browns, but something they can’t change now. To make matters worse, Watson suffered a torn Achilles and reinjured it during his rehab process.
On Tuesday, the Browns put him on the active/physically unable to perform list, meaning that Watson will count toward the 90-player roster during training camp and can be activated at any time.
Will the Browns Eventually Activate Watson in 2025?
Despite the Cleveland Browns’ decision to put him on the physically unable to perform list, it was reported by Zac Jackson of The Athletic that it remains unknown whether the team will eventually activate him.Â
Due to Jimmy Haslam’s past comments and Watson’s lackluster play, there are several factors to consider for the Browns moving forward.Â
âThough an exact timetable for medical clearance is unknown, the Browns have long known that Watson would not be ready for the start of camp or for the start of the 2025 season. Players on the active-PUP list count against the 90-man roster during training camp and can be activated any time, but Watsonâs expected rehab schedule extends beyond this summer.
âItâs unknown if the Browns would activate Watson at any point during this season. In March, team owner Jimmy Haslam acknowledged the franchiseâs disastrous 2022 trade for Watson by saying the Browns âtook a big swing and missâ on acquiring Watson in a package that included three first-round picks,â he wrote.
After the season, Haslam noted that the Browns made a mistake, noting that it was a big swing and a miss by trading for him.
âLetâs address the elephant in the room,â Haslam said. âWe took a big swing and miss with Deshaun. We thought we had the quarterback, we didnât, and we gave up a lot of draft picks to get him. So weâve got to dig ourselves out of that hole.â
Watson’s Immovable Contract
It’d be very easy for the Cleveland Browns to get rid of Watson if they didn’t give him the contract they did. Watson signed a five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million contract.Â
With the situation only worse because of that, the Browns still have to deal with Watson counting for more than $80 million on their salary cap in 2026, according to Jackson.Â
âThe Browns still have a huge financial commitment to Watson, who counts for just less than $36 million on the teamâs 2025 salary cap and is scheduled to count for just more than $80 million in 2026. The Browns have reworked Watsonâs contract multiple times to lower his cap numbers and could do so again after this season,â he wrote.
After drafting two quarterbacks, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, in the first five rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft, the hope is that Cleveland will eventually find its long-term quarterback.Â
Unfortunately for many reasons, that won’t be Watson.
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