Category: Latest Browns News

Tracking the wild reaction to the Browns/Deshaun Watson news

The Browns and Texans created some March Madness of their own by agreeing to the Deshaun Watson trade

While the deal is not yet official, the reports of Deshaun Watson coming to the Cleveland Browns in a blockbuster trade set the NFL world on fire on Friday afternoon. The March Madness moved from the hardcourt to the Browns and Texans agreeing to a trade that will send Watson to the Browns for multiple high draft picks.

The reports of the still-unofficial deal created quite a divergent set of reactions. Many are astonished at the Browns ability to make the trade after Watson previously ruled them out as a destination. Others are aghast that the Browns would bring in a player who is still facing civil lawsuits with 22 women for sexual impropriety.

Here’s a sampling of the top reactions on Twitter.

Deshaun Watson addition has drawn the attention of free agent Jadeveon Clowney

A top-flight QB can attract free agents. Watson’s addition seems to have drawn the eye of one of the Browns biggest free agents this year:

The Cleveland Browns’ pending acquisition of Deshaun Watson will likely dominate storylines far into the future. It also has a chance to draw players to join the team like never before.

The off-the-field allegations are concerning and an issue the franchise will have to deal with going forward. On the field, Watson is one of the top three to five quarterbacks in the NFL.

We’ve seen time and time again, including Von Miller joining Buffalo this offseason, where players are drawn to play with start quarterbacks. The presence of a quarterback of Watson’s caliber can create that kind of gravity in the NFL the same way LeBron James has done in the NBA.

One free agent has taken notice already. Jadeveon Clowney, who spent one year in Cleveland before hitting free agency, shared Watson’s post on his Instagram account:

Clowney has previously stated that he would sign wherever he could get paid the most money. An earlier report stated that Cleveland may not see a return but that was before the acquisition of Watson.

Without Clowney, the Browns added Taven Bryan in free agency and traded for Chase Winovich.

Getting Clowney to return would be a huge boost to the team’s defensive line and help address a need now that the team traded their first-round pick in 2022.

Deshaun Watson sends message to Browns fans on Instagram after trade

Deshaun Watson posted a message to Browns fans after the trade on Friday.

The Cleveland Browns’ newly minted quarterback, Deshaun Watson celebrated his trade from the Houston Texans on Friday afternoon. He took to Instagram to share a photo of him in a Browns uniform.

“LETSSSS GOOOO!!” he wrote. “#DawgPound Ready To Work!”

Watson, who faces 22 civil lawsuits alleging sexual assault and harassment, is set to join the Browns in a trade that will send five picks, including three first-rounders, to the Texans. Watson is set to sign a five-year, $230 million contract with Cleveland. He had been reportedly deciding between the Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints, but ultimately the Browns got back into the mix and convinced the quarterback to waive his no-trade clause.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CbQg458uuqC/

Watson missed all of the 2021 season with the Texans electing not to play him while his lawsuits remain unresolved. While a Harris County grand jury chose not to indict Deshaun Watson, he still faces civil suits — and a potential suspension from the NFL.

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Browns reportedly deal five picks to Texans for Deshaun Watson and a pick

Early reports are that the Browns have given up five draft picks, including three first-rounders, for Watson. More details have since been confirmed by Ian Rapoport:

The Cleveland Browns and the Houston Texans have agreed upon a historical deal. Afterword spread earlier this week that Deshaun Watson had eliminated the Browns from contention as a landing spot, a complete turn of events took place Friday afternoon.

Watson informed Houston that he would be waiving his no-trade clause to go to Cleveland in a shocker as most expected he would choose the Atlanta Falcons or New Orleans Saints.

Shortly after the news came out of his decision came word that the team and his agent had agreed to a historic deal in terms of guaranteed money.

We are slowly learning details of the trade between the two teams as well. First, Tom Pelissero reported it would be five draft picks. Then, Adam Schefter came along with even more details but stated the deal had not been finalized yet:

Update:

Ian Rapoport is now reporting that the deal is complete:

Five picks (three first-round, one third-round and one fourth-round) out with Watson and a fifth-round pick in return.

End Update

It is possible that there are more details involved with the trade including the possibility of players. Cleveland currently is scheduled to have the 13th pick in the 2022 NFL draft. They also have an extra third-round pick from the hiring of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and an extra fourth-round pick from a trade during last year’s draft.

Here are the terms of Deshaun Watson’s pending contract agreement with the Browns

Watson is getting a new contract that sets the NFL record for guaranteed money

The price of acquiring quarterback Deshaun Watson, once the eventual trade becomes official, goes far beyond the Cleveland Browns simply sending a flurry of draft picks to the Houston Texans. The Browns are also going to give Watson a lucrative new contract extension that will keep him in Cleveland for five more years.

The Browns will give Watson a new five-year, $230 million contract extension, per numerous reports. Any new contract will be processed once the agreed-upon trade is finalized.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter indicated the entire contract is guaranteed, an unprecedented level of commitment in the history of the NFL.

 

QB Deshaun Watson chooses the Browns with a trade expected to follow

Deshaun Watson has agreed to be traded to the Cleveland Browns a trade is expected to follow:

The Cleveland Browns have repeatedly said that they envisioned Baker Mayfield returning in 2022 and having a bounce-back year for the team. Mayfield led the team to the playoffs in 2020 but struggled with injury and his performance in 2021 before undergoing shoulder surgery this offseason.

The team reportedly reiterated their plans to Mayfield’s agent during the NFL combine but the report noted they would continue to explore all their options.

The team did just that with reports now that the Browns have agreed to a blockbuster trade to acquire QB Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans. Following the grand jury not bringing criminal charges against Watson on Friday, interest in the 26-year-old franchise quarterback was high.

With a great offensive line and running game, along with the Saturday addition of WR Amari Cooper, Cleveland was attractive to Watson, who had a no-trade clause, but the team still had to make a deal with the Texans.

After earlier reports that he would no longer consider the Browns, Watson has reportedly told Houston that he will waive his no-trade clause to go to Cleveland while the two teams hammer out a trade:

Watson will also get a record-setting guaranteed contract from Cleveland once a trade is completed.

In Watson, the Browns acquire a young quarterback that has been ascending since taking over in Houston midway through his rookie season. He has led the Texans to the playoffs twice, in 2018 and 2019, including a wild card victory over the Buffalo Bills and Josh Allen.

In September of 2020, Houston and Watson agreed to a four-year, $160 million contract extension that kicks in in 2022. Over the next four seasons, the Browns new quarterback has an average cap hit of just over $38 million unless the sides renegotiate.

As we covered when the Watson rumors picked up on Friday, the quarterback could be facing a suspension from the NFL despite being cleared of criminal charges. He still faces 22 civil lawsuits for inappropriate behavior with massage therapists.

With Watson on his way in, Mayfield could be the next major quarterback move in the NFL. For Cleveland, Mayfield is the past and Watson is the future.

Amari Cooper Browns jersey, get your official Amari Cooper Cleveland Browns gear now

Get your official Cleveland Browns Amari Cooper gear before they sell out, get it now

The Cleveland Browns have acquired Amari Cooper in a trade from the Cowboys, and now the fans have the chance to own his jersey as we get ready for what we hope is an incredible season for the Browns.

You can now get your Amari Cooper Cleveland Browns jersey and all of your Browns gear now. Click on any of the photos or check out all the official NFL merchandise here.

Amari Cooper Cleveland Browns Nike Player Game Jersey – Brown

This is a special event item and will be shipped no later than Thursday, April 21, 2022.

Amari Cooper Cleveland Browns Nike Player Name & Number T-Shirt – Brown

This is a special event item and will be shipped no later than Thursday, April 21, 2022.

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Baker Mayfield: Relationship with Browns ‘too far gone to mend’

Baker Mayfield told ESPN the relationship with the Browns is irreparable

The Baker Mayfield drama is quickly escalating. Mayfield has formally requested the Browns trade him, and he provided some deeper context to his reasoning via Adam Schefter of ESPN.

“It’s in the mutual interest of both sides for us to move on,” Mayfield said to ESPN. “The relationship is too far gone to mend. It’s in the best interests of both sides to move on.”

This comes on the heels of numerous reports out of Cleveland that the Browns are not going to accommodate Mayfield’s trade request.

All this has come to a head in the aftermath of the Browns’ failed trade pursuit of Texans QB Deshaun Watson. The Browns aggressively pursued Watson and made a presentation to both the Texans and Watson in trying to convince both parties that Cleveland was the best destination for the legally-troubled former Pro Bowler.

Mayfield is coming off an injury-plagued season where he played through both a shoulder and a knee injury that clearly inhibited his performance.

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Report: Baker Mayfield has asked the Browns for a trade

Starting QB Baker Mayfield has asked the Browns for a trade in the wake of the team’s pursuit of Deshaun Watson

The other shoe in the Browns failed pursuit of Deshaun Watson has now fallen. Incumbent starting quarterback Baker Mayfield has requested a trade from the team.

The news was first reported by Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network.

Mayfield had previously expressed his feelings about the Browns going after Watson. While the team tried to smooth things over, it appears Mayfield no longer wants to be part of the plan in Cleveland.

The Browns came up empty in the pursuit of Watson. The Houston Texans ruled out the Browns as a trade destination earlier on Thursday, though no trade has been made yet. But the damage to the already rocky relationship with Mayfield has apparently gone too far.

Update: It appears the Browns will not honor Mayfield’s trade request:

Report: Browns view Baker Mayfield as starting QB despite Deshaun Watson pursuit

Does Baker Mayfield still view the Browns as his team?

After a failed attempt to trade for Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, a quarterback facing 22 civil cases of sexual misconduct, the Cleveland Browns still view Baker Mayfield as their starting quarterback, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

Mayfield issued a letter to fans last week to show his appreciation for Cleveland amid the uncertainty surrounding his future with the Browns. At that point, he seemed to cast doubt about whether his relationship with the team would remain intact after they searched for another quarterback. But apparently, the Browns informed Mayfield at the NFL combine that they would be doing just that.

It will be fascinating to see if the Browns want to repair their relationship with Mayfield — or part ways with him. It’s possible that after Watson chooses his next team, Mayfield might draw interest on the trade market.

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