Deshaun Watson makes surprise decision regarding his next NFL team
After a week of speculation, the decision is in. Deshaun Watson is heading to the Cleveland Browns in a shocking change of mind, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Houston Texans are trading Watson to the Cleveland Browns, according to Schefter, who said the teams must still finalize details. Trade rumors were rampant this week after a grand jury determined Watson wouldn’t face any criminal charges from several lawsuits against him. The details of the trade were released on Thursday afternoon and the Cleveland Browns will be trading three first round picks and two additional picks to the Houston Texans, per NFL Network’s Albert Breer.
Watson, the No. 12 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, didn’t play in 2021. He has a no-trade clause in his contract, meaning he could decide his next team if the Texans traded him. Multiple teams reportedly met with him, including the Cleveland Browns, before he decided on the Browns.
Thursday, reports surfaced saying Watson eliminated the Browns from his short list of destinations. That left the Falcons and Saints as potential trade partners. The Browns won out, and he’ll suit up for them in 2022.
Without Watson, the Texans went 4-13 in 2021. They ended up firing coach David Culley at season’s end and promoted Lovie Smith to replace him.
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Watson’s best season with the Texans came in 2020 when he completed 70.2% of his passes for 4,823 yards and 33 touchdowns. Houston went just 4-12 that season — Bill O’Brien’s last as head coach.
The Texans looked much different in 2021. O’Brien was out, and Watson didn’t play at all as his legal situation unfolded. That ended last week when a grand jury cleared him of all criminal charges stemming from 22 lawsuits against him.
“After a Harris County grand jury was presented all the evidence and had the opportunity to hear from all witnesses, grand jurors declined to indict Deshaun Watson,” a statement from the Harris County District Attorney’s Office read. “Grand jury proceedings are secret by law, so no information related to their inquiry may be disclosed.”
That’s when teams reached out to trade for Watson, and Houston told teams it was only interested in serious offers.
In fact, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport said two teams — the Saints and the Carolina Panthers — made hefty offers for the former Clemson star, including multiple draft picks.
“The market for Deshaun Watson is heating up, and the hope and the belief is that he should have a decision — and the Houston Texans should have a decision — in the next several days before the start of free agency,” Rapoport said. “The New Orleans Saints and the Carolina Panthers are among the teams that have made strong offers for Deshaun Watson.
“The offers are expected to be and believed to be in the range of three first-round picks and potentially more. This has been the price for Deshaun Watson, a franchise quarterback in his prime, locked up on contract for several years.”