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The Browns traded for Watson three years ago and the final draft pick included in the deal was utilized Friday by the Houston Texans.
The Cleveland Browns swung a deal in March 2022 to acquire quarterback Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans.
As an enticement to get Watson to waive his no-trade clause, the Browns signed him to a five-year, fully guaranteed contract that will see Watson pocket $230 million.
Related: Assessing the Deshaun Watson trade two years later
In addition to the salary, the trade cost the Browns draft capital as they sent the Texans three first-round draft picks (2022, 2023, and 2024), a third-round pick (2023), and two fourth-round picks (2022 and 2024).
OFFICIAL: We have acquired 3-time Pro Bowl QB Deshaun Watson in a trade with the Texans
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) March 20, 2022
While the Browns still have three years to go on Watson’s current contract, the draft pick portion of the deal was finally paid in full on Friday night when the Texans selected USC safety Calen Bullock in the third round after making a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles that included the fourth-round selection they received from the Browns.
Here is how the Texans utilized all the picks they received for Watson:
- First round 2022: Originally the No. 13 overall selection, Houston used it as part of a trade package with the Philadelphia Eagles to move down to No. 15 overall and select offensive guard Kenyon Green from Texas A&M.
- Fourth round 2022: The No. 107 overall selection, the Texans used it to select running back Dameon Pierce from Florida.
- First round 2023: Originally the No. 12 overall selection, Houston used it as part of a trade package with the Arizona Cardinals to move up to No. 3 overall and selected defensive end Will Anderson Jr. from Alabama.
- Third round 2023: Originally the No. 73 overall selection, Houston used it as part of a trade package with the Los Angeles Rams to move up to No. 69 and select wide receiver Tank Dell from Houston.
- First round 2024: Houston traded this year’s first-round selection from the Browns (No. 23 overall) to the Minnesota Vikings as part of a deal to acquire the Vikings second-round selection (No. 42 overall). With that pick, the Texans selected cornerback Kamari Lassiter from Georgia.
- Fourth round 2024: Houston also traded the fourth-round pick in this year’s draft, No. 127 overall, to the Philadelphia Eagles as part of a deal to move up to the No. 78 overall selection, where they picked Bullock.
Got all that? Good!
In two seasons with the Browns, Watson has played in just 12 games due to an NFL suspension in 2022 and a shoulder injury in 2023.
The Browns have won eight of the 12 games where Watson has played, while he has completed 60 percent of his passes for 2,217 yards, 14 touchdowns, nine interceptions, and posted a quarterback rating of 81.7.
The 2024 NFL Draft concludes today with rounds four through seven beginning at 12 p.m. The Browns currently hold four selections, with pick No. 156 in the fifth round, pick No. 206 in the sixth round, pick No. 227 in the seventh round and pick No. 243 in the seventh round.
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