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LOOK: Deshaun Watson reacts to being traded to the Cleveland Browns

Chandler Vesselsby: Chandler Vessels03/18/22ChandlerVessels

Deshaun Watson is thrilled to be a new member of the Cleveland Browns. Shortly after finding out he would be traded to the team, the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback took to Instagram to share his excitement.

The Browns will send three first round picks and two additional picks to the Houston Texans, whom Watson has played the entirety of his five-year NFL career for. The quarterback will also receive a historic new contract in Cleveland worth $230 million over five years pending the completion of the trade, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Deshaun Watson’s new contract will be fully guaranteed, shattering the NFL record for most guaranteed money by $80 million. The previous record was set by Aaron Rodgers at $150.6 million, which surpassed Josh Allen’s $150 million.

Watson sat out the entire 2021 season while under investigation after 22 women filed complaints against him for sexual assault and harassment. However, a grand jury recently decided that he will not face criminal charges in any of the cases against him.

That opened the door for several NFL teams to begin inquiring about a trade for the quarterback, who was playing some of the best football of his career prior to the accusations. Watson led the NFL with 4,823 passing yards in 2020, while also recording 444 yards on the ground and scoring 36 total touchdowns.

The Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints were believed to be the two finalists for the former first-round pick, but ultimately he chose the Browns and a new contract. Because he held a no-trade clause in his contract with Houston, Watson was able to interview with all teams before making a decision.

The Browns may not be done trading yet either. Quarterback Baker Mayfield requested a trade from the team on Thursday. Mayfield finished this past season with 3,010 passing yards, a career low, 17 passing touchdowns, also a career low, and 13 interceptions. He told the Browns after the Watson trade that he preferred to be dealt to the Indianapolis Colts.

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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.”

On3’s James Fletcher contributed to this report.