Jimmy Haslam keeps door open on Deshaun Watson staying with Browns beyond 2026

Last year, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam called the Deshaun Watson experiment “a big swing and miss.” Haslam isn’t ruling out stepping back into the batter’s box.

Meeting with reporters on Friday, Haslam didn’t close the door on Watson remaining with the Browns beyond 2026, the final year of his ill-advised five-year, $230 million, fully-guaranteed deal.

“I think there are all kinds of possibilities out there — so, yes,” Haslam said as to the possibility of Watson returning in 2027. “But here again, we’ve got to get through practice. I think our quarterbacks will play in the exhibition games, that’s obviously [coach] Todd [Monken’s] call, and then Todd will figure out who’s going to start.”

If Watson wins the job and plays well, why wouldn’t the Browns think about bringing him back? Winning cures all, from off-field problems to injury histories to so-so performances from a player who is now six years removed from playing at a high level.

Still only 30, Watson has plenty of football left. And it would be a typical Browns move for Watson to have a resurgence, for the Browns to let him go, and for Watson to finally get back to his franchise-quarterback form with another team in 2027.