The Houston Texans got a better compensation package from the Cleveland Browns in their trading of quarterback Deshaun Watson than was initially realized.
According to official statements from the Texans on March 18, Houston picked up the Browns’ 2022-24 first-round picks, a 2023 third-round pick, and a 2024 fourth-round selection. The Texans had to send Watson and a 2024 fifth-rounder for the boatload of selections.
According to the NFL’s official transaction sheet on March 21, the Texans gave up less and picked up more in the exchange.
Houston officially traded Watson and a 2024 sixth-round pick to the Browns for their 2022-24 first-round picks, 2022 fourth-round pick (No. 107 overall), 2023 third-round pick, and 2024 fourth-round pick.
The Texans now have six picks in the top-110 of the 2022 NFL draft — a decent capital to either address roster needs or package picks to take impact players.
General manager Nick Caserio told reporters on March 19 that the draft haul from the Watson trade is helpful, but the team still has a long way to go to complete the rebuild.
“There’s a lot of work and purposeful work that’s going to go into it, but I think we’re headed in the right direction,” said Caserio. “The draft assets and the draft allocation, that’ll kind of take care of itself and we have a job to do on that front. Hopefully we’re positioning ourselves organizationally to put ourselves in a position where we can hopefully have success, sustainable success for a long period of time.
“We’re not there yet and I don’t want anyone to misconstrue or anybody to think otherwise, but I would say we’re positioned here today, where the team is positioned currently, building on the foundation we put in place a little bit last year.”