Three years removed from the Deshaun Watson trade, Paul DePodesta is revisiting the transaction that changed the Cleveland Browns.
Paul DePodesta on Deshaun Watson Trade
Rockies’ Paul DePodesta on taking job with Colorado: ‘I’m a sucker for a challenge’ https://t.co/NRToxkFs2h
— The Denver Post (@denverpost) November 11, 2025
In 2022, DePodesta was the Browns’ chief strategy officer. He became one of the leading forces in facilitating the trade for Watson.
The Houston Texans traded Watson and their 2024 sixth-round pick to the Browns for three first-round draft picks (2022, 2023, and 2024), a 2023 third-round pick, a 2022 fourth-round pick, and a 2024 fourth-round pick.
Watson then signed a five-year, $230 million deal with the Browns. All $230 million is fully guaranteed, the most in NFL history.
Three years later, the Watson deal is now considered one of the worst trades in NFL history. For the return the Browns have gotten on Watson, it’s likely the worst contract in NFL history.
Since joining the Browns, Watson has thrown for 3,365 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 19 games (9-10).
During his Browns tenure, Watson has faced significant sexual assault allegations and served an 11-game suspension to start the 2022 season.
Watson is currently recovering from an Achilles injury suffered in January 2025.
Earlier this month, DePodesta left football to become the president of baseball operations with the Colorado Rockies. In an interview with the Denver Post, DePodesta reflected on the Watson trade.
“Here’s what I would say, and I truly believe this. I believe that most of the decisions, especially the big ones like that, are organizational decisions, right? I’m not a believer in the ‘King Scout’ situation where there is one guy who makes every call,” DePodesta said. “The jobs are too complex, the decisions are too hard. They impact too many different things. So I always think these sort of collective decisions, it can be hard to get unanimous [opinions] on those types of things. Everyone who was a part of that? We all own that. We just do, that’s part of the deal.”
Could Deshaun Watson Return in 2025?
The #Browns are not opening Deshaun Watson's 21-day practice window this week, but he continues to make excellent progress in his rehab from the re-ruptured Achilles: https://t.co/A0iA2NCHSW
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) November 11, 2025
The Cleveland Browns’ quarterback situation is intriguing.
Dillon Gabriel continues to start, but the rookie has not shown anything to prove he could be a long-term solution.
Shedeur Sanders is waiting in the wings, but head coach Kevin Stefanski continues to prefer Gabriel over the Colorado product.
With the Browns at 2-7, could Watson return at some point this season?
The Browns are not opening Watson’s 21-day practice window this week. Stefanski then gave a cryptic answer about Watson’s future this season.
“I’m not sure if that’s what we’re doing,” Stefanski said about Watson’s potential return via Mary Cay Cabot.
Watson is still on the books for the 2026 season, though many expect the Browns to designate the quarterback as a post-June 1st release next year.
