After what feels like an eternity, the Houston Texans have finally agreed to a Deshaun Watson trade. Details of the trade are still being finalized, but Watson is expected to be traded to the Cleveland Browns, where he is receiving a big extension. Watson, of course, has been at the center of over 20 civil lawsuits regarding alleged sexual misconduct. On March 11th, a grand jury ruled that Watson would not face criminal charges, thus clearing a path to this trade.
What is now thought to be the final compensation in today’s seismic trade:
🏈Browns get: Deshaun Watson and a 5th-round pick.
🏈Texans get: three first-round picks, a third-round pick and a fourth-round pick. https://t.co/nOtoRVIlGp
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 18, 2022
UPDATE: The deal is completed.
Deshaun Watson gets a fully guaranteed 5 year $230M contract. That is $80M more than the previous record for fully guaranteed money at signing ($150M). This deal was negotiated by David Mulugheta of Athletes First. https://t.co/nQls9WRpD1
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 18, 2022
Houston Texans, Cleveland Browns, Agree to Deshaun Watson Trade
Shortly after the end of the 2020 NFL season, quarterback Deshaun Watson reportedly demanded a trade. At the time, Watson was coming off a fantastic season, completing 70.2% of his passes for a league-leading 4,823 yards, 33 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. However, despite these great numbers, Houston finished 4-12. This underwhelming roster combined with perceived slights from the organization made Watson want to continue his career elsewhere. For a little while, it appeared as though it was only a matter of time before some quarterback-needy team traded for one of the best young quarterbacks in football.
Of course, those plans took a turn when the lawsuits started coming in. When all was said and done, Watson was staring down 22 civil lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct. This obviously slowed down trade talks, as the quarterback remained on Houston’s roster throughout the entirety of the offseason.
Normally teams try and stay away from players with this many red flags, but Watson’s talent is apparently great enough for some teams to take this risk. Since entering the league, Watson has completed 67.8% of his passes for 14,539 yards, 104 touchdowns, and 36 interceptions. In addition, the Clemson product has added an additional 1,677 yards and 17 rushing touchdowns on 307 career carries.
Watson originally entered the NFL as a first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Selected by the Houston Texans, the quarterback began his career behind Tom Savage. However, Watson earned the starting job after just one half of football and never gave it back. Since taking over, the quarterback has been one of the most efficient and exciting players in football.
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