The Cleveland Browns and quarterback Deshaun Watson have agreed to restructure his contract, freeing up $36 million in cap space to be cap-compliant before the new football year begins.

Watson, 30, missed all of last season while recovering from an Achilles injury he suffered in 2024. He was supposed to have a cap hit of $80.7 million, which was by far a league high, before the restructure.

The Browns will owe Watson $46 million guaranteed in 2026 after signing a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract after being traded to the Browns.

Watson has hardly seen the field for the Browns due to suspensions and injuries, but the Browns expect and hope Watson to be in the mix to be their starting quarterback next season. In games he has played, he has not been good, posting a league-worst 33.1 total quarterback rating.

He will be competing with Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel and potentially another quarterback if they choose to bring one in.

New Browns head coach Todd Monken said he wants Watson in the mix because “anytime that you have a player that at one time has exhibited the skill set at an elite level,” hope remains.

“I think you’re always going to give them the benefit of the doubt that somehow we might be able to get that out of him again, and I think that’s how you should look at every player.”

The Browns still have more work to do and more contracts to restructure before free agency officially begins.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has received much criticism on the field since his trade from the Houston Texans in 2022.

Browns’ owner Jimmy Haslam recently referred to the trade as a “big swing and a miss” after three seasons of recurring injury from Watson and mediocre play at best when Watson is on the field.

Watson has a different view of the situation.

“Everybody is doubting me,” Watson said on a video on his Instagram page. “I know, I’m going to be way better than before.”

When Watson was with the Texans, he was widely regarded as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, leading to a four-year, $160 million deal with the team. After demanding a trade and landing on the Browns, he signed a fully guaranteed 5-year, $230 million deal.

That contract now appears to be among the worst deals in NFL history.

Watson’s future with the Browns is unclear. If the Browns decide to cut Watson, they would owe $173 million in dead money for 2025 and $136 million for 2026. Both numbers would be larger than the previous record for dead money owed for a single player, set by the Denver Broncos in 2024 after cutting Russell Wilson.

The Browns traded for former Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett. It’s also possible the Browns, who currently hold the second overall pick in the NFL draft, could target either quarterback Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders in the first round.

The Cleveland Browns and quarterback Joe Flacco have agreed to a 1-year, $4 million deal on Friday.

Flacco returns to Cleveland, where he led the Browns to the playoffs in 2023 and won the Comeback Player of the Year award.

Flacco reportedly spoke with other teams, including the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings, before deciding to return to Cleveland.

Flacco will join a quarterback room with Deshaun Watson and Kenny Pickett. Considering the injury history and ability of both players, it’s not unlikely Flacco sees playing time this season.

The deal is worth up to $13M in incentives.

The Browns’ quarterback room now has three different faces from last year. Jameis Winston, Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe all have new homes after taking snaps in a Browns uniform.

Cleveland has also met with many of the top quarterback prospects in the NFL draft, including Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart, among others.

This will be Flacco’s 18th season in the league. Flacco spent last year with the Indianapolis Colts, where in eight games he threw for 1,761 yards, 12 touchdowns, seven interceptions and a quarterback rating of 90.5.

If Flacco plays anywhere near the level he did from his first stint on the Browns, he’ll be well on his way to year 19.

Following a storm of online musings from an increasingly hostile Cleveland Browns fanbase, general manager Andrew Berry clarified that quarterback Deshaun Watson‘s injury setback was not a result of unsanctioned activities.

Watson’s 2024 NFL season ended, as has become customary, with a whimper. He tore his Achilles tendon in Week 7, following an uninspiring first several games that featured a career-low QBR of 23.1. That season, of course, followed a series of sexual assault allegations, a massive and controversial 2022 trade between the Browns and the Houston Texans to acquire Watson in the first place, and two underwhelming seasons cut short by injury or suspension.

The spectacular failure of the Watson experiment has vindicated fans who hated his acquisition and frustrated those who hoped for success. It’s unsurprising that, when Berry revealed in January that Watson had suffered a “setback” in his recovery, Watson’s commitment and viability as a quarterback were extensively questioned.

When asked about the situation during media availability at the NFL Combine, Berry waved off any concerns.

“Yeah, so obviously Deshaun, he reinjured his Achilles. Unfortunately, he turned his foot [or] ankle that caused the re-tear during the normal stages of the recovery process,” Berry said. “I know there’s been a lot of speculation and everything out there, but there’s nothing nefarious. It’s just an unfortunate accident.”

“So, our focus is on making sure that he gets healthy and can be back to normal.”

Berry also added that Watson’s return timetable is uncertain, but that he will miss “significant time.” This may be a cheering prospect for fans rooting for the $44.3 million in contract insurance the Browns could recoup if Watson doesn’t play in 2025.

With or without Watson, the Browns lack a viable top quarterback. The good news is that they finished 3-14 in 2024, securing them the second overall pick, which could become Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders.

The bad news? Cleveland is eons away from being a genuinely good team, and they’ve got holes at a multitude of positions other than quarterback. And as long as Watson’s massive contract sits in their books, their odds of filling those positions in free agency are slim to none.

The Cleveland Browns haven’t budged since defensive star Myles Garrett made his trade request earlier this week. But with Garrett interested in competing with a contender, Cleveland may be stuck as other defensive stars begin to reconsider their own plans. 

“I want to be in Cleveland,” Browns cornerback Denzel Ward told Cleveland.com this week. “I want to win. I’m definitely keeping an eye on what Myles has going on and what he’s doing. I’m just interested in seeing how everything plays out. Like I said, I want to play with Myles Garrett, and we’ve just got to wait and see.”

It’s easy to see Garrett going to any number of teams, as the six-time Pro-Bowler would instantly improve any defense in the NFL. The Lions and Commanders both stand out as win-now contenders looking for defensive upgrades. The Raiders and Patriots, on the other hand, are rebuilding teams with clear paths to imminent improvement. The Browns, by comparison, are in stasis.

Losing Garrett means more than losing him as a player for Cleveland. Giving in to his request to play for a “contender” will mark the end of yet another failed era. Admitting that there isn’t a way forward in the near future and giving away their best player will likely doom the Browns to multiple losing seasons as they stockpile the draft picks necessary to rebuild.

The team’s problems have nothing to do with Garrett and hardly involve the defense at all. Quarterback Deshaun Watson still has plenty of time remaining on one of the worst contracts in NFL history. 

The offense improves each year with the help of short-term quarterbacks stepping in as starters, but these arrangements haven’t allowed the staff to create a cohesive system. A surprise run to the playoffs in 2023 didn’t lead to any momentum at all in 2024. The team seems doomed to gritty mediocrity. Even if Garrett’s trade request is a play at more money, it’s also a sign that he can see the writing on the wall. 

“I needed to relax, decompress and take some time to think about it with my family and allow myself to distance myself from the last game,” Garrett told USA Today. “After conversations with [my family] and still feeling the same way about the trajectory of the team, and also speaking with [the Browns] management about the near future and our success and playoff hopes, I felt like it was time for a transition.”

In Garrett’s rookie season in 2017, the Browns went 0-16. Cleveland bounced back to appear in the playoffs in 2020 and 2023, but they remain the only winning seasons in Garrett’s tenure. In 2024, Cleveland went 3-14.

In the three years following his record-setting five-year, $230 million contract signing with the Cleveland Browns, Deshaun Watson has proven to be one of the poorest investments in NFL history – if not the worst.

Watson was suspended for over half of his first season with Cleveland and missed huge chunks of the following two with season-ending injuries, the most recent of which was a torn Achilles tendon in Week 7. While playing, his completion percentage never cracked 64%, while his QBR hit a high of 42.9 last season before cratering to 23.1 in 2024.

He underwent surgery on his Achilles tendon at the end of October and was expected to be available for the 2025 season. On Monday, though, Browns vice president of football operations Andrew Berry announced that Watson had suffered a “setback” in his recovery.

“If he needs another surgery, and if he does need this thing repaired again, I think he’s out for the 2025 season,” said Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot at the time.

Ian Rapoport revealed Friday that Watson had ruptured his Achilles again, and underwent a second surgery on Jan. 9.

While this is perhaps the worst-case scenario for Watson’s availability, the possibility of his absence for the 2025 season opens up pathways for Cleveland.

For one, the team has his contract insured. If Watson doesn’t play at all in the upcoming season, the Browns would see $44.3 million in relief, which would be recouped in cap space in 2026.

Meanwhile, Cleveland has already been searching for a viable longer-term quarterback. They own the second spot in the 2025 NFL Draft, meaning that they could lay claim to either Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward, the presumptive top two quarterback picks. Or they could wait for next year and choose instead to sign a veteran like Aaron Rodgers or Kirk Cousins, coming off bad years with the Jets and Falcons, respectively.

Regardless of the choice, though, Watson’s setback will likely lead to a sizeable increase in cap space. And his performance over the past three years has all but ensured that the Browns will be seeking a replacement.

What did you think of the story? Leave a comment to let us know! Sign up for the free uSports email for the latest sports news & opinion!

The Cleveland Browns have long been infamous for quarterback trouble. Since 1999, nearly every quarterback the team has retained, whether drafted, signed or traded for, has struggled mightily and ultimately failed to keep the starting job.

The team, acutely aware of the fact, landed coveted trade piece Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans in 2022 in return for a haul that included three first-round picks, and signed him to the largest contract in NFL history – five years, $230 million.

Stability at last, presumably. Except that, in nearly three years since the signing, Watson has only rocked the ship further.

Watson was suspended for 11 games to start his debut season with the Browns as a result of serious sexual misconduct allegations. He finished the season at 3-3, posting a career-worst passer rating of 79.1, and proceeded to both underperform and suffer season-ending injuries in both 2023 and 2024. Before tearing his Achilles tendon this season, Watson led the Browns to a 1-6 record and the worst yardage offense in the NFL.

With Watson out, backup Jameis Winston has been the primary starter. He’s been successful against divisional opponents, garnering gutsy wins against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, but has struggled outside of the two wins. Winston tossed eight interceptions in his last three starts before being sidelined with a shoulder injury in mid-December.

The third quarterback to start for the Browns this season was Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who has struggled even more. He has completed 51.3% of his passes for no touchdowns and six picks over his two starts, where the Browns put up six and three points, respectively.

In the last game of the season, head coach Kevin Stefanski gave fourth-string quarterback Bailey Zappe a start. On Saturday, Zappe completed 16 of 31 passes for 170 yards in a 35-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He threw one touchdown but also two interceptions.

Zappe, who the Browns signed off the Chiefs’ practice squad in November, has eight career starts, a 63.2% completion percentage, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He will become the fortieth quarterback to start for Cleveland since 1999.

“I’d love to be here. I’d love to play here. I’ve made great relationships here,” Zappe said after the loss. “I believe I can win games here like I have in the past. I just think I see the vision of what [Stefanski] and [Andrew Berry] and all these guys have been here for a long time, the vision that they want this organization to get to.”

What did you think of the story? Leave a comment to let us know! Sign up for the free uSports email for the latest sports news & opinion!

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam will not commit to quarterback Deshaun Watson for the 2025 season, instead saying that he and general manager Kevin Stefanski would evaluate at the end of the year. Watson still has two years remaining on the five-year, $230 million contract he signed with the team in 2022.

“We’re all disappointed,” Haslam said of the Browns’ 2024 season. “We’ve got a lot of work to do. We’ll go back and go to work. I’ve learned not to get too emotional during the season. We will sit down after the season, go through everything for next year.”

It’s an understatement to say that the Browns took a risk trading for and signing Watson in 2022. He was facing two dozen civil trials for sexual assault, most of which he would eventually settle. The Texans essentially forced him off the field for the duration of the 2021 season. In signing the problematic passer, the Browns made an expensive and highly unfavorable decision in a desperate attempt to find a franchise quarterback. He failed them.

After serving a 10-game suspension in 2022 for his numerous assault allegations, Watson did not finish the season as advertised. He was flat and indecisive, lacking the dynamic play he demonstrated in five seasons with Houston. In 2023 and 2024, he was just as unremarkable before ending both seasons early with injuries. Backups have repeatedly demonstrated that Watson is holding back the offense.

In 2023, veteran Joe Flacco stepped in for an injured Watson and the team transformed into a powerhouse. Cleveland even made a surprise run to the playoffs, with Flacco throwing for at least 300 yards in five of his six appearances. Watson has never reached that milestone in Cleveland. 

In 2024, Watson returned in even worse form, failing to throw for 200 yards in seven straight appearances before suffering another setback. This time, notorious gunslinger Jameis Winston stepped in and led the Browns to an upset victory over the Ravens in his first start. The team has not been quite as sharp as they were at the end of last year, but Winston has still been a stark improvement. On Dec. 3, he threw for 497 yards in defeat against the Broncos.

Competent play at quarterback would not have been enough to save Watson shredded public image, but failing to provide that for Cleveland has made an already unlikeable talent into an outright roster liability. When Watson was carted off the field with another season-ending injury in 2024, Browns fans cheered his exit. Many pundits and team members criticized this reaction from fans, but it was an overwhelmingly clear indication that Watson has long overstayed his lukewarm welcome in Cleveland.

Though Haslam is hesitant to stand by his long-term signee at quarterback, his options to move on from Watson are limited and daunting. His entire contract is guaranteed, meaning that a buyout would cost the team more than $200 million in dead cap space over the next two seasons. Without sudden improvement, the deal will likely be remembered as the worst in NFL history, severely limiting Cleveland’s spending power during a time when the team could have been a perennial playoff contender.

A new lawsuit filed in Houston against Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was filed on Monday, alleging sexual assault and battery occurring in 2020.

Watson’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, released a statement Wednesday responding to the allegations two days prior.

“Deshaun strongly denies the allegations in the Jane Doe lawsuit filed Monday. We have asked him not to comment further while this matter works its way through the courts, but are comfortable he will ultimately be vindicated. We will be ready to defend this case in court at the appropriate time, but don’t intend to conduct our defense in the media. We would ask that people be patient while the legal process runs its course.”

The NFL and the Cleveland Browns did not release a statement. However, the league stated it would not place the quarterback on the commissioner’s exempt list, and Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski stated he would start Watson on Sunday against the Jaguars.

Tony Buzbee, who represents the woman in this case, did announce a statement later Wednesday.

“We reached out to attorney Rusty Hardin’s office for ten months in an attempt to resolve this case. We knew this case was the most serious and egregious case brought against Watson to date and our client, who is rightly traumatized by these events, wanted to attempt a private resolution.”

Watson had previously settled 23 out of 24 civil cases against him in 2022, but he received an 11-game suspension from the league. However, he has never been charged criminally.

The former Clemson quarterback looks like a shell of himself on the field, as he racked up just 165 passing yards on 45 attempts in a blowout loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Watson received the only fully guaranteed contract in NFL history after the Browns traded an unprecedented six draft picks for him a couple of years ago.

Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry delivered news about quarterback Deshaun Watson‘s recovery from last year’s season-ending shoulder surgery during his appearance on NFL Network’s The Insiders. According to Berry, Watson is on track and ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation, generating optimism for the team’s upcoming season.

“He’s really champing at the bit to take the governor off, so to speak,” Berry said to ESPN.

Watson’s rehab from surgery to repair a displaced fracture in his glenoid has been marked by steady progress. He missed the final nine games of the 2023 season, including the playoffs, due to the injury.

Watson is throwing every other day and progressing to participate in 7-on-7 drills during the Browns’ mandatory minicamp. Despite not being cleared for full practice yet, his trajectory indicates a potential return to full activity by the start of training camp in late July.

Berry highlighted Watson’s impressive recovery, noting that his performance in the minicamp, particularly his aggressive passing session in a practice open to the media, was a significant milestone.

The addition of offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and wide receiver Jerry Jeudy aims to bolster the Browns’ offense, which struggled last season. Berry expressed confidence in Watson’s readiness and the team’s prospects for a successful season.

“We’re excited as he gets into training camp and we get the pads on,” Berry said. “But he’s making excellent progress. Honestly, if you didn’t know he got hurt last year, you wouldn’t really be able to tell the difference. We’re very excited once camp starts.”

The Browns’ optimism is not unfounded. Watson, acquired in a blockbuster trade before the 2022 season, has yet to fully showcase his potential in Cleveland. His anticipated return to form could significantly impact the Browns’ performance and aspirations in the highly competitive AFC North.

The Browns are hopeful that Watson’s progress will translate into on-field success, providing a much-needed boost to a franchise looking to make a deep playoff run. Berry’s positive update has certainly set an optimistic tone for the team’s preparations, and fans eagerly await to see if Watson can lead the Browns to new heights this season.

The Cleveland Browns will reportedly interview Brian Johnson for their vacant offensive coordinator position Thursday. The Eagles promoted Johnson to offensive coordinator in 2023, but he will not return to Philadelphia after the team finished the regular season with an 11-6 record and lost in the Wild Card Round.

Cleveland is one of many teams looking to fill coaching vacancies after the team parted ways with former offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt at the end of the season.

Despite playing with four different quarterbacks and suffering a number of injuries at other offensive positions, the Browns’ defense was so strong that the team earned a postseason berth. They lost to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round. With a more consistent offense, the team could be an aspiring Super Bowl contender in the near future, though Johnson has more to prove before earning such consideration.

With a vast coaching background in college football, Johnson became the Eagles’ quarterback coach in 2021. He has worked closely with Jalen Hurts since the quarterback’s second NFL season and was a member of the 2022 Eagles team that went to the Super Bowl. His promotion to offensive coordinator once seemed natural, but it was the beginning of the end for his Philadelphia tenure.

After coaching Hurts, one of the most dynamic players in football, directly earlier in his career, Johnson and the 2023 Eagles faced significant criticism for executing a bland, vanilla offense. Even when Philadelphia began the season with a 10-1 record, fans and analysts often complained that the team was not pleasant to watch and scrapped its way to too many close wins.

The first warning sign passed inconspicuously when the Eagles were defeated by Zach Wilson and the New York Jets. Hurts appeared uncharacteristically fatigued near the end of the game and the offense stalled spectacularly in the team’s first loss of the season.

Johnson and the Eagles’ offense continued to skate by for some time, but the wheels fell off late in the season as the team went from 10-1 to 11-6 to end the year. The team’s offensive coordinator was not solely to blame for this skid, as the defense also collapsed in several shootouts. Morale was exceptionally low going into the playoffs when Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers emerged from the lowly NFC South and defeated Philadelphia in a 32-9 drubbing.

With this ill-fated season in mind, Johnson will rely on opportunities from struggling teams to rebuild some of his reputation in the NFL. Cleveland is one such team in desperate need of a freshener on offense, and Johnson’s specialties at the quarterback position could significantly help. The Browns struck gold with Joe Flacco late in the season, but the 39-year-old quarterback is little more than a patchwork solution while the team struggles through three more years of Deshaun Watson’s fully guaranteed $230 million contract.

The Cleveland Browns named journeyman quarterback Joe Flacco as their new backup this week. He could start if Dorian Thompson-Robinson is unavailable for the team’s Week 13 game against the Los Angeles Rams.

If Flacco appears under center Sunday, he will be Cleveland’s fourth starting quarterback this season. After Deshaun Watson and P.J. Walker exchanged the role for most of the season while Watson dealt with multiple injuries, Thompson-Robinson stepped in as an alternative and has started the last two weeks. Though he managed to lead the team to a win over the Steelers, he has never managed to throw for more than 200 passing yards. He is currently in concussion protocol after exiting last weekend’s game against the Broncos.

“Big, strong arm. Obviously, he can make every throw,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said about Flacco Wednesday. “He’s done a very nice job in the meeting room, getting to know his teammates, getting to know the system. He’s done a nice job.”

Flacco, now 38, is most well-known for his work against Cleveland as the longtime quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens. He has bounced around since leaving his original team in 2018, playing for the Broncos, Jets and Eagles before landing on Cleveland’s practice squad.

Though Cleveland has struggled at the quarterback position this year and lost star running back Nick Chubb early on, the team is still 7-4 and would be in the playoffs as the sixth seed if the season ended this week. The Browns’ defense has been stifling all year and has kept them in games against some of the best teams in the league.

Regardless of whether Thompson-Robinson or Flacco starts, the team will likely have to lean on its defenders again in Week 13. The Chargers boast one of the best offenses in football and are coming off a frustrating loss to the Ravens.

The Cleveland Browns signed offensive lineman Colby Gossett Wednesday, adding more protection for quarterback Deshaun Watson. Gossett was a member of the Browns from 2019 to 2021.

Before joining the NFL, Gossett played at Appalachian State for four seasons from 2013 to 2017, earning first-team all-conference honors in his junior and senior years. The Minnesota Vikings selected him in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft but quickly waived him. After a year on the Arizona Cardinals, during which he briefly appeared on the main roster, and a very short stint with the New England Patriots, he landed on the Browns in 2019, earning a promotion to the main roster late in the regular season.

Gossett sat out the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic and was released by Cleveland in 2021. He was picked up by the Atlanta Falcons, who later signed him to a one-year, $965,000 contract for the 2022 season. Between Arizona, Cleveland and Atlanta, he has now appeared in 36 games and made nine career starts.

The move is a minimal one for Cleveland and does not address any major needs, but it will likely give the team more depth at guard. Gossett is currently listed as the backup left guard behind five-time Pro-Bowler Joel Bitonio, who has not missed a start for the team since the 2016 season.

Gossett is just one of many players the Browns have signed this year to add depth at certain positions. The flashiest signings for Cleveland thus far have been wide receiver Marquise Goodwin and backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs, but the team also recently signed another two guards, Michael Dunn and Wes Martin, as well as defensive players Thomas Graham Jr. and Ben Stille. Two days before Gossett was signed, the team also picked up punter Joseph Charlton.

With last season serving as more of a false start because of Watson’s suspension, this season will be the first in which the Browns’ rebuilding effort will be truly tested. The team’s potential is very difficult to evaluate until issues at quarterback are firmly resolved through Watson’s play.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson confirmed on social media that the Baltimore Ravens were not offering him $250 million guaranteed, a number that would give him the highest guaranteed salary in NFL history.

In an uncharacteristic move in the modern NFL landscape, Jackson doesn’t have an agent and is conducting his own contract negotiations. Even stranger, Jackson revealed details about the negotiations by replying to fans’ social media messages.

Responding to a series of tweets from speculating Ravens fans, Jackson rejected one individual’s prediction that the team had already offered him $250 million. Since Deshaun Watson was guaranteed $230 million by the Browns earlier in the offseason, the higher number has often been connected to Jackson as the natural and deserved next step.

Despite handling his own contract talks, Jackson has repeatedly said that he is not holding out and has been a constant presence in the Ravens facility since training camps began.

He has set a deadline for negotiations to end at the start of the regular season, with or without a new deal, so that he can focus on his play.

Based on his generational talent, many are arguing that Jackson is worth whatever the Ravens can afford to pay him. Since taking joining the team in 2018, the Louisville graduate has led the team to a 41-17 record and three postseason runs.

His MVP season in 2019, during which he threw for 3,127 yards while running for 1,206, made him the natural successor to fellow mobile quarterback Michael Vick. In 2020, he became the only passer in NFL history to record two 1,000-yard rushing seasons.

Russell Wilson’s five-year, $245 million contract announced Thursday, featuring $165 million guaranteed, could hurt Jackson’s discussions with the Ravens as his self-imposed deadline approaches.

It’s difficult to compare any contract to the one Jackson could receive, however, because of his young age and highly unique skill set. It’a certainly possible that Jackson gets his deal, and Ravens fans rejoice as the organization locks down their hero for the foreseeable future. But the clock is ticking.

Deshaun Watson will serve an 11-game suspension and the Cleveland Browns will need to decide who its new starting quarterback will be. 

In addition to the suspension, Watson agreed to pay a fine of $5 million, which is the largest player fine in NFL history. 

In between late 2019 and early 2021, the quarterback allegedly engaged in sexual misconduct, victimizing more than two dozen massage therapists.  

While two grand juries did not charge him, the NFL decided to take action. 

Originally, the suspension was six games but the NFL and the player’s associations reached an agreement on an 11-game suspension. 

“I apologize once again for any pain this situation has caused,” Watson said. 

“I take accountability for the decisions I made. My focus going forward is on working to become the best version of myself on and off the field and supporting my teammates however possible while I’m away from the team.” 

Now with the suspension locked in, the Browns will be without their starting quarterback for most of the season. 

Despite the controversy, the Browns invested a lot in Watson.

First, it traded three first-round picks, along with a third and fourth-rounder to acquire him. 

Then the Browns awarded him a five-year fully guaranteed $230 million contract.

Now the team might be left with just Jacoby Brissett, who was set to be Watson’s backup. 

Over his six-year NFL career, Brissett has thrown for more than 7,700 yards while completing around 60% of his passes. 

If not Brissett, then the Browns could look elsewhere in the trade market – particularly at Jimmy Garoppolo – who has been in the rumor mill since last season ended. 

In fact, the San Francisco 49ers confirmed it will move on from him and seek a trade. 

However, he could get cut if there are no takers for Garoppolo, who is coming off shoulder surgery and is set to make around $25 million next year. 

So potentially, the Browns might be able to get him in free agency if the organization wants him. 

In a 15-page conclusion released Monday morning, former federal judge Sue L. Robinson ruled that Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will serve a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy relating to sexual misconduct.

Robinson said that there was not sufficient evidence to rule in favor of an indefinite suspension.

The NFL Players Association has already confirmed that they will stand by Robinson’s ruling and encouraged the NFL to do the same.

If the suspension is upheld, Watson will miss the first six games of the 2022 regular season, but will still be able to practice and play with the Browns in the preseason.

He will not have to pay a fine, but could reportedly lose $345,000 in salary payments. The NFL’s collective bargaining agreement also states that he can practice with the team for the second half of his suspension, beginning in Week 4.

Since March 2021, 25 different women have filed lawsuits against Watson accusing him of inappropriate sexual behavior during massage appointments. Watson has settled 23 of these cases and another was dropped. In March 2022, a jury ruled that Watson would not face criminal charges for nine complaints filed against him.

When one of the initial criminal complaints was first filed against him in March, Watson reiterated in a statement on Twitter that he was not guilty of any wrongdoing.

“I have never treated any woman with anything other than the utmost respect … it’s about clearing my name, and I look forward to doing that,” Watson said.

In the wake of Watson’s suspension announcement, Robinson and investigators have received public criticism for not pursuing a more severe ruling. In a statement given to USA Today, National Center on Sexual Exploitation CEO Dawn Hawkins said that the punishment for Watson was insufficient but nevertheless represented a step in the right direction.

“We believe that (Watson’s) suspension should have been stricter, but we are thankful that the league has begun to take seriously matters of sexual exploitation by holding players like Mr. Watson accountable,” Hawkins said.

How Does Watson’s Punishment Compare To Others?

Others have argued that Watson’s six-game suspension for sexual misconduct does not properly align with previous suspensions given to other players for different violations.

In an Instagram post published by SBNation, the publication compared Watson’s proposed six-game suspension with Josh Gordon’s 16-game suspension in 2015 for substance abuse and Calvin Ridley’s 17-game suspension last season for gambling violations. The caption argued that the NFL’s potential decision to stand by Robinson’s ruling would have a clear, negative impact on the league’s priorities in policy enforcement.

With the NFLPA standing by the ruling, the NFL has three days to do the same or submit a written appeal, which would be a clear sign that the league is still seeking a more severe suspension. In the meantime, Watson will continue to report to the Browns’ training camp as his case nears a potential end.

The Cleveland Browns started Day 1 of their summer training camp this week and got their first look at their new quarterback Deshaun Watson for the first time at camp. But, the jury is still out on whether or not Watson will be their starting quarterback come September.

The NFL is still waiting on the verdict from an independent arbitrator after a disciplinary hearing was carried out a few weeks ago. Watson is still dealing with four of the 24 lawsuits filed against him months ago alleging sexual misconduct during private massage sessions. Watson has since settled 20 out of the 24 but is still waiting on a verdict from the NFL.

The Browns allowed all three of their rostered quarterbacks to get significant reps during camp, but Browns’ head coach Kevin Stefanski said that he will split reps between Watson and newly acquired Jacoby Brissett. Brissett was signed in March following the acquisition of Watson and is available to start if he is not able to play.

“I don’t have much to add on Deshaun’s status,” Stefanski told reporters, “We have a plan, and as information becomes available, we can adjust that plan.” When asked if he constantly checks on news on Watson’s status for 2022, Stefanski answered sternly, “If you’re anxious, I can’t help you. We just deal with it. That’s our mentality. We’re going to deal with July 27, and then we get to tomorrow, we’ll deal with tomorrow. That’s kind of how we operate.”

Watson has still maintained his innocence regarding the allegations. The NFL had recommended a suspension of at least a year but recent reports have come out stating that Watson may only receive a four or six-game suspension in 2022, which would be in the Browns’ best interest. Watson is only guaranteed $1 million for the 2022 season with the rest of his $230 million guaranteed salary prorated along the next four years of his contract.

Jimmy Garoppolo’s busy offseason is only getting started. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Wednesday that the 49ers gave the quarterback and his agents permission to seek a trade. Shortly before this development, Garoppolo had been cleared to practice with the team following surgery in March.

Talk of the 49ers dealing Garoppolo has persisted for several months and intensified in May when Head Coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters that the quarterback would likely be traded. Garoppolo’s surgery was reportedly responsible for the delay, and Schefter said that the 49ers are still “expected to exercise caution” as they explore options this summer.

In five seasons with the 49ers, Garoppolo has led the team in two lengthy postseason runs. In 2019, he threw for 3,978 passing yards and 27 touchdowns as San Francisco went 13-3 in the regular season. They lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl.

This past year, Garoppolo’s only other healthy season as a starter, the team snuck into the playoffs with a 10-7 record but upset the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers to advance to the NFC Championship Game. They lost 20-17 to the Los Angeles Rams, who went on to win the Super Bowl.

Based on his successful postseason resume, it’s clear that the 49ers aren’t looking for other options because of Garoppolo’s time on the field. By most measures, he appears to be a strong leader with a proven track record. But because of multiple injuries, his time off the field seems to be the primary issue.

Since 2018, Garoppolo has failed to complete two seasons with the team, and in those years, San Francisco earned a 10-22 combined record. With his most recent surgery in mind, the quarterback becomes even more of a liability.

Despite injury concerns, multiple teams are likely to inquire about Garoppolo as the season approaches. With Deshaun Watson in line for a lengthy suspension, the Cleveland Browns appear to be prime trade candidates with the cap space necessary to take on his contract, but many other teams could benefit from Garoppolo’s experience for the right price. The fight for Garoppolo is unlikely to turn into the sweepstakes that many other quarterbacks have enjoyed as free agents in recent years, but the upside for some teams will surely outweigh the potential hazards.

There have been major developments surrounding the 24 sexual misconduct lawsuits involving Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. According to attorney Tony Buzbee, who is representing the women who’ve filed the suits, Watson has now settled 20 of the lawsuits leaving four that have yet to be settled.

Since March 16, 25 lawsuits have been filed against Watson, which accused him of sexual misconduct and harassment during massage sessions, however, one of the lawsuits was dropped due to discrepancies within her petition. Now 20 of the remaining suits have been settled with the paperwork still to be filed. “We are working through the paperwork related to those settlements. Once we have done so, those particular cases will be dismissed. The terms and amounts of the settlements are confidential. We won’t comment further on the settlements or those cases,” Buzbee said.

The NFL is currently deciding on whether or not Watson will be suspended. NFL Spokesman Brian McCarthy said these settlements haven’t changed anything, “today’s development has no impact on the collectively bargained disciplinary process,” he said.

Of the four lawsuits that have yet to be settled, one of them includes Ashley Solis‘s suit. Solis was the first woman to come out publicly as a plaintiff against Watson. Buzbee acknowledged her specific case and highlighted her mistreatment from Watson’s team during the case.

“The cases against Deshaun Watson started with one phone call, from one brave and strong woman. That woman was Ashley Solis,” he said. “At the time of that call, she was just one of the hundreds of calls seeking legal assistance that our firm gets weekly. Even though she was originally turned away by our screening process, my staff insisted that I personally speak with her. I’m glad she persisted. Once we took a second look, and after having contact with Watson’s original lawyer who disrespected Ashley and her profession and who arrogantly minimized the conduct of someone he referred to as an “asset,” I was convinced that our law firm should try to help her. As a result of Ashley’s lone but brave voice, soon many women who had allegedly experienced the same conduct were emboldened to step forward.”

The settlements come as a surprise since Watson and his attorney Rusty Hardin have been adamant about not making any settlement agreements and focusing on clearing Watson’s name. “I’ve been honest and I’ve been truthful about my stance,” he said. “I never forced on anyone and I never assaulted anyone. That’s what I’ve been saying since the beginning and I’ll continue to do that until all the facts come out,” Watson said in May.

There are a number of new allegations are swirling around Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. Along with the new allegations and lawsuits filed against Watson, an investigation conducted by The New York Times, found that there are new details regarding Watson’s massage sessions and the previous lawsuits that contradicts the evidence that Watson and his legal team have provided.

The investigation found that Watson had been seeing a number as many as 66 massage therapists in a 17-month span between 2019 and 2021. This contradicts Watson’s claim of only about 40 therapists. New details also came to light that Watson would also secure non-disclosure agreements provided by Brent Naccara, Texans’ director of security and former Secret Service agent. These NDAs were brought to meetings with massage therapists. One of the claimants, Nia Smith, posted on social media text exchanges between Watson and herself, along with CashApp receipts.

Another woman, who had arranged a massage with Watson said that he repeatedly pushed for sexual acts during their sessions, and would continue to do this until “I specifically had to say, ‘No, I can’t do that.'”

One of the more shocking revelations of the investigation was that Watson would use hotel rooms provided by the Houston Texans organization for his massage sessions. Watson reached out to one therapist claiming he was “just tryna support black businesses.”

This was similar to other women who had been involved in massage sessions with him. Watson offered to meet at The Houstonian, a hotel where the Texans had arranged a membership for him. Watson told the woman that the “Texans were not aware, ‘that I know of,’ that he used the hotel for massages.” According to the report, Watson had seen at least seven other women at this hotel.

The NFL still has not released a statement regarding the new allegations nor have they reached a verdict on whether or not Watson will be disciplined by the NFL. It is unclear whether this new information will be a factor in his impending discipline.