News & Info/Headlines

Deshaun Watson Traded To Cleveland Browns
Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson has decided that he wants to play for the Cleveland Browns.

Watson informed the Texans that he was willing to waive his no-trade clause to be dealt to Cleveland and according to NFL Network, the deal is officially done.

Watson is a Brown.

Cleveland will give Watson a new five-year, $230 million contract, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. He would receive $184 million over the first four years of his new contract -- a $48 million raise over what he was scheduled to make under his current contract.

The full $230 million is guaranteed, sources told Schefter, setting a record for highest guarantee given to an NFL player.

The Browns will send three first-round picks, a third-round pick and a fourth-round pick in return to Houston. Cleveland gets a fifth-round pick in addition to Watson.

That would be five total picks for Watson, who selected by Houston in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

He has made three Pro Bowls during his career and led the NFL in passing (4,823 yards) during the 2020 season.

The news of Watson's expected trade comes two days after it was reported that the Browns had been the first team eliminated from a potential deal. The Panthers were then notified that they no longer were in the running on Thursday, setting the stage for an apparent final two of the Falcons and Saints.

Trade discussions for Watson quickly materialized after a Harris County (Texas) grand jury on March 11 determined there was not enough evidence to charge Watson with a crime following allegations of sexual misconduct stemming from massage therapy sessions.

Watson also faces 22 civil lawsuits. The 26-year-old remains under NFL investigation and is subject to potential discipline under the league's personal-conduct policy.

The trade also opens up the chance for quarterback Baker Mayfield to find a new team. Mayfield had requested a trade out of Cleveland, he told Schefter earlier this week, but a source had previously told ESPN's Jake Trotter that the Browns would not accommodate that request.

They undoubtedly will do so now.

In fact, immediately after the news of Watson heading to Cleveland broke, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reported that Mayfield informed the Browns he wants to play for the Colts.

The Colts, Seahawks and, of course, the Saints and Panthers remain quarterback needy.

Mayfield and Jimmy Garoppolo are available via trade, with Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota and Andy Dalton among the available free agents at the position.

The Browns surely would prefer trading Mayfield out of the AFC, but like Watson, he might end up staying in the conference.

There will obviously be fantasy ramifications here -- mostly on the Cleveland side of the ball since Watson's departure was already baked into the expectations in Houston.

For the Browns, their recent acquisition of Amari Cooper becomes much more interesting than it would have been with Mayfield at the helm of Kevin Stefanski's offense.

That offense, by the way, has been run heavy. Expect some adjustments in that with Watson under center.

But all the expectation should be held in check at the moment -- at least until resolution of the 22 civil cases against him and any subsequent disciplinary measures the league might impose.