The Cleveland Browns made a major investment in quarterback Deshaun Watson in the spring of 2022.
Not only did the Browns send three first-round draft picks to the Houston Texans as part of the trade, they also handed Watson a five-year, fully guaranteed contract worth $230 million.
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There was much pearl-clutching and finger-wagging from media members and other NFL owners at the Browns for giving Watson that deal ostensibly because of his off-field behavior while with the Texans that would ultimately result in an 11-game suspension from the NFL for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.