Watson does u-turn; goes to Browns for a net of four picks … It was the black cloud hanging over the 2022 draft, but the league can srt of move on now that QB Deshaun Watson has been traded to Cleveland for first round picks in each of the next three drafts, as well as a 3rd round pick in 2023 and a 4th in 2024. To complete the deal Cleveland will get a 5th round pick in 2024. In fact, the Texans only get one pick this year – the 13th overall – as part of the deal. In the end, the Texans, who had been asking for three first round picks and a combination of three other picks or young starters, didn’t get quite what they were asking for as they only get a net return of four picks, but the three firsts were what was key and they got those. That Cleveland ended up the winners in the Watson’s sweepstakes represented a rather dramatic turn of events on Friday as the Browns had been told they were out. However, Cleveland offered Watson a new contract which guarantees him something like $46M a year for the next 5 years, although there apparently is an out for the Browns during any time he is suspended. The next question, of course, is what do the Browns do with Baker Mayfield. Certainly, he’ll be traded somewhere such as Carolina, Seattle, or Indianapolis, the team’s that don’t currently have a viable option at the position, or even New Orleans which was also in the running to acquire Watson. However, they almost just as certainly won’t get anywhere near the same return for Mayfield.
