Texans trade Deshaun Watson to Browns

By Tyler Tyre, Sports Editor
Posted 3/22/22

“There’s a lot of work ahead of us,” Caserio said. “But we are in a better position than we were previously because we have that clarity for everybody involved and it allows us to move forward as a franchise.”

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Texans trade Deshaun Watson to Browns

Posted

The saga is finally over.

After 14 months of speculation and drama, Deshaun Watson is no longer a Houston Texan.

The franchise made it official Friday, when the Texans traded Watson to the Cleveland Browns.

“I think the biggest thing it provides everyone is clarity, just in terms of direction,” said Houston Texans General Manager Nick Caserio. “Deshaun has clarity on what his future holds from a football standpoint, for him individually. And we have clarity as an organization in terms of what the expectation is moving forward with what we have in place.”

In return for the star quarterback, the Texans received first round picks from Cleveland in the 2022, 2023 and 2024 drafts as well as the Browns 2023 third-round pick and 2024 fourth rounder.

“We just want to look forward and what’s ahead of us,” Caserio said. “There’s a lot of work that we need to get done,” Caserio said. “We’re a long way from where we need to be, there’s going to be a lot of work to get there, but everyone is excited about it. Everyone is anticipating the next step here in the offseason. We’re preparing for the 2022 season but I think we’re heading in the right direction. Hopefully we’re positioning ourselves as an organization to where we can have consistent success.”

The trade came just a week after a Harris County grand jury declined to indict Watson after 22 women filed civil lawsuits against him accusing him of sexual assault during different massage sessions. A criminal investigation occurred, but the grand jury did not find enough to charge Watson.

“Our biggest goal, what we’re trying to do is put together a consistent winner, put together a foundation and put together a team that a lot of people can be proud of,” Caserio said. “People within the organization, players, coaches, front office staff, the fans most importantly. I think everyone just wanted clarity. We said from the beginning, we’re going to be patient and be very thoughtful. We wanted to make the best decision for the organization and yesterday, we though was the right opportunity and we thought was the right time.”

The Browns were one of a number of suitors for Watson and were thought to out of the running earlier this week. But the gave Watson what no one else would and because of that, Watson only waived his no trade clause for Cleveland and no other team.

What they gave Watson, was the most guaranteed money to any player in NFL history, as the Browns signed him to a five year, $230 million contract of which every dollar is guaranteed.

The Browns also handed Watson a nearly $45 million signing bonus, while making his 2022 season salary only $1 million, a move which in all likelihood came because he still has a chance of being suspended by the NFL for some duration this season because of the large number of massage therapists accusations.

The Browns released a statement in support of Watson and in defense of their trade, but many still have questions.

“We are confident in Deshaun and excited about moving forward with him as our quarterback and supporting his genuine and determined efforts,” said Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam in a statement.

With the trade finally in the books for Houston, the team is looking to move forward to free agency and the draft as they prepare for the 2023 season.

“There’s a lot of work ahead of us,” Caserio said. “But we are in a better position than we were previously because we have that clarity for everybody involved and it allows us to move forward as a franchise.”

NFL, Texans, Browns, Cleveland, Houston, Deshaun Watson, trade, sports