Ex-Browns exec Paul DePodesta seemingly takes shot at Kevin Stefanski as Deshaun Watson trade fallout grows

Former Cleveland Browns chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta made a return to baseball last week after he was named president of baseball operations for the Colorado Rockies.

Although the DePodesta has ventured into a different sport, the infamous Deshaun Watson trade continues to follow him. DePodesta facilitated Watson's trade to the Browns in 2022; however, it turned out to be one of the worst decisions in franchise history.

When DePodesta was asked about the "blame" he received for the trade in his first press conference for the Rockies, the former Browns exec took a dig at Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski.

"You know I was also calling plays for the Browns—ha ha," DePodesta quipped.

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DePodesta said he takes ownership of the decision, even though it was an organizational move that included many members.

“I’ve said this before. I think whenever you have a significant player decision, whether it’s a trade, free-agent signing, number one draft pick, whatever it is, like, those are organizational decisions, right? Those are done collaboratively, like a lot of people on board. "And if you’re a senior leader of that organization at that time, then you own that decision. I mean, you do. We all do. So that’s the way I feel about that, and it’s the way I feel about sort of almost all the decisions we made there in Cleveland. I absolutely, you know, own them all."

Deshaun Watson unlikely to return to Browns lineup this season

Apart from the off-field controversy, Deshaun Watson has had a disastrous string with the Browns. In his 19 games for the franchise in three seasons, Watson has a 61.2% completion rate with just 3,365 yards. He's thrown 19 touchdowns to 12 interceptions during that time.

The Browns have struggled offensively, with the team handing over the starting quarterback role to rookie Dillon Gabriel. Although Watson is expected to recover from his Achilles tendon surgery in the coming weeks, he is unlikely to feature for the Browns.

Edited by Chaitanya Prakash