The Cleveland Browns mortgaged their future for a player they weren’t sure would play for them in 2022. Cleveland, in need of the kind of quarterback capable of changing the trajectory of its tragic franchise, traded three first round picks for Deshaun Watson, a player then under investigation following more than 20 accusations of sexual misconduct and what the NFL would later describe as “predatory behavior.” Once the Browns had him, they gave him the largest fully guaranteed contract in league history thanks to a five-year, $230 million extension.
Watson sat out the first 11 games of the season due to a league mandated suspension — he also gave up $5 million in fines to go along with approximately $600,000 in game checks. This set him up for a return to Houston to face his former team in Week 13, then a state of Ohio showdown with the rival Cincinnati Bengals in Week 14. With a little luck, a revitalized Watson could lead his team back into playoff contention.
