Hue Jackson has all but admitted that the Cleveland Browns should have drafted Deshaun Watson instead of DeShone Kizer, but the head coach firmly denies that he texted Watson on draft day.
Over the weekend, Watson told CBS that Jackson sent him a text message saying “be ready” on the first day of the NFL Draft. After Sunday’s 33-17 loss to Watson’s Houston Texans, Jackson said the exchange never took place.
“Oh my God, I don’t know anything about that,” he said, via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “I wouldn’t have done that.”
It was CBS play-by-play announcer Andrew Catalon who said Watson told him about the text message from Jackson, and the former Clemson star later confirmed that the report was “correct.” Jackson certainly didn’t remember it that way.
“That’s so long ago,” he said. “And I met with that (TV) crew. Nobody asked me that. I met with the same crew, that question never came up to me, so I mean, I did text Deshaun (in the days) before. I was in conversation with him, but I don’t recall draft day at all. I don’t think I would’ve done that.
“I know I did not send that text on draft day. You said on draft day, so no. I knew who we were taking with the first pick and we took the guy that we wanted (Myles Garrett), so I don’t remember making that text.”
Jackson seemed to be emphasizing that he didn’t text Watson on the day of the draft, so perhaps he is focusing too much on the timeline. The point is that Jackson’s communication with Watson illustrates to Browns fans how close they were to getting the now-Texans quarterback, who is a Rookie of the Year candidate.
Instead, Cleveland traded the No. 12 pick to Houston in exchange for No. 25 and the Texans’ first-round pick next year. The Browns went on to select Kizer in the second round, and the former Notre Dame quarterback was benched this past week in favor of Kevin Hogan.
Prior to the draft, there were some indications that Watson may have been trying to avoid going to the Browns. If those rumblings were true, he’s even smarter than we thought.
