The price for Deshaun Watson went up for the Cleveland Browns in 24 hours. Call it football inflation.
Cleveland’s trade for the legally entangled quarterback became official Sunday, when the Browns finalized the complex deal and released statements from owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam explaining their decision to add him to their roster following the team’s own extensive investigation.
A three-time Pro Bowler, Watson has been accused of sexual misconduct by 22 female massage therapists.
The Browns’ announcement also included terms of the deal that turned out to be inaccurate.
On Monday, when the trade hit the NFL transactions wire, the Browns had sent first- and fourth-round draft picks in 2022 (Nos. 13 and 107), first- and third-rounders in 2023 and first- and fourth-rounders in 2024 to the Texans.
In exchange, the Browns got Watson and a sixth-rounder in 2024.
The original deal didn’t include the fourth-round pick this season and had Cleveland getting back a fifth-rounder in ’24.
The team did not provide any reason for the change.
