Deshaun Watson Posts Cryptic Message After Browns Owner's Comments

Deshaun Watson appears to be responding to some not-so-friendly fire from Cleveland Browns co-owner Jimmy Haslam. Earlier this week, Haslam openly reflected on the decision to trade for Watson and sign him to a jaw-dropping $230 million guaranteed contract—a move that, in hindsight, he described as a "big swing and miss." Ouch.

"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 at the annual league meeting in Palm Beach, Florida. He added that the decision was made by the entire organization but ultimately rested on him and his co-owner wife, Dee Haslam. "Hold us accountable," he concluded. Message received.

Not one to let comments slide, Watson took to Instagram shortly afterward to share his progress in rehabbing his Achilles injury, posting 20 photos of himself working out shirtless at the Browns' facility. In the caption, Watson wrote, "Maybe, if I weren’t built for this, I’d let it phase me." Translation: He's not letting the criticism shake his confidence—at least publicly.

Watson's tenure in Cleveland has been turbulent, to say the least. Suspended in 2022, he managed to play only six games that season, followed by another six in 2023. His 2024 season was cut short after seven games due to a ruptured Achilles, an injury he tragically suffered again earlier this year. For a player who led the league in passing yards back in 2020 with the Houston Texans, it's been a tough fall from grace.

Since arriving in Cleveland, Watson's contract has been restructured twice, extending void years through 2030 to spread out dead money and avoid a single-season financial catastrophe. He's set to become a free agent after the 2026 season, but whether he'll still be the Browns' quarterback by then is anyone's guess.

Looking ahead, the Browns could eye a new quarterback in this year's draft. Although Cam Ward is projected to go first overall to the Tennessee Titans, Shedeur Sanders might still be available when Cleveland picks second. Other names like Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter are also on the table. Haslam hinted at the team's approach, saying, "If the right person’s there, we’re going to take him. If not, we’ll figure it out for a year or two until we get the right person." Sounds like they're keeping their options wide open.

For now, both Watson and the Browns seem to be navigating uncertain waters. One thing’s clear: the pressure is on for everyone involved.