Finally, the front office admitted. After years of the Dawg Pound’s cries, co-owner Jimmy Haslam finally admitted. Cleveland took one of the biggest swings in NFL history, and they might’ve whiffed. Three first-round picks. $230 million guaranteed. All in on Deshaun Watson. And now, Jimmy is calling it what it is: a “big swing-and-miss.” That’s not a jab. It’s just reality.
The Browns bet the house on Watson, and so far, the return has looked like a losing hand. Watson’s availability—or lack thereof—has been brutal. Since 2020, he’s missed 66 of 85 possible games (if he misses the entirety of the 2025 season). That’s almost four full seasons.
But even with an elite skill set, how do you rebound at quarterback when you’ve been more inactive than the Pro Bowl defense you’re supposed to lead? He’s thrown 19 touchdowns and 12 picks in 19 games with Cleveland. That’s not franchise QB material. That’s QB limbo.
So yeah, the Browns are digging. And with Kevin Stefanski under pressure and the roster too good to waste, they needed a plan B with some juice. Enter: Joe Cool. No, not the ‘07 Ravens version. We’re talking 2023’s unlikeliest hero—Joe Flacco. The 39-year-old who walked off the couch and into Comeback Player of the Year. He’s back on a one-year deal, $4 million guaranteed, up to $13 million with incentives. The Browns didn’t just bring in a veteran arm—they brought back a guy who saved their season last year.
Flacco chose Cleveland over the Steelers and Vikings. That says something. He’s betting on continuity. On a locker room that rallied behind him. On a coach that trusted him. And maybe—just maybe—on one more wild ride in Year 18.
So now, the Browns’ QB room looks like a film you’ve already seen… but the sequel’s still being written.
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