At what point could the Deshaun Watson trade be dubbed a disaster for the Browns?

Amidst the ongoing tension between the Browns and quarterback Deshaun Watson, it begs the question: when will the Browns’ trade for Watson become a complete disaster?

In 2022, the competition for Watson’s services was fierce, with the Saints, Falcons, Panthers, and Browns all vying for his signature. Unfortunately for the Browns, their pursuit of Watson resulted in irreparable damage to their relationship with Baker Mayfield. And when the Browns fell short and missed out on Watson, they grew desperate and offered him an unprecedented five-year, $230 million contract with full guarantees.

While much attention has been placed on the financial commitment to Watson, little has been said about the draft picks the Browns sacrificed to acquire him. They gave up first-round picks in 2022, 2023, and 2024, as well as a third-round pick in 2023 and fourth-round picks in 2022 and 2024. It’s a significant price to pay, especially when considering the low cost of keeping those draft picks on the team for years to come.

So far, what have the Browns gained in return? Watson’s presence on the field has been limited to six meaningless late-season games in 2022, following his eleven-game suspension. Additionally, his one-year suspension meant that the first year of his five-year contract was eaten up, leaving only four more years of Watson as a Brown.

This year, Watson has played in only four games before a shoulder injury sidelined him. The timeline for his return remains unclear, as highlighted by his recent comments to the media. And while addressing speculation about his desire to play football, he expressed his commitment to the Browns.

But here’s the reality: Watson previously decided to leave the team with which he had signed a major contract, sitting out an entire year to achieve his goal. Despite numerous lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct, Watson successfully forced his way out of Houston.

Now, it’s too early to jump to conclusions, but it’s worth remembering what happened when Watson no longer wanted to play for the Texans. And it’s certainly not too early to question whether the Browns’ massive investment in Watson, including the sacrifice of six potential foundation-building draft picks, could end up being one of the biggest trade blunders in NFL history.