Texans' Deshaun Watson not interested in joining Browns?
As Ben Axelrod of WKYC noted earlier on Monday, multiple reports said the Cleveland Browns had, at the very least, "explored the possibility" of landing Houston Texans star quarterback Deshaun Watson in a blockbuster trade now that he is no longer facing criminal charges related to numerous allegations of sexual assault and misconduct that have hovered over his playing status since last year.
Watson's contract contains a no-trade clause, so the 26-year-old would have to agree to join the Browns if they matched Houston's reported asking price of three first-round draft picks and multiple additional assets. According to NFL insider Benjamin Allbright of Colorado's KOA radio, Watson and not the Texans rejected an unknown deal presented by Cleveland for the signal-caller.
It was learned on Monday morning that Watson intends to meet with the Carolina Panthers and the New Orleans Saints at some point before the new league year opens on Wednesday. "Other teams" were also mentioned, and that caused some to assume the Browns were among those clubs. However, Allbright's update suggests that's not the case.
At the NFL Scouting Combine earlier this month, Browns general manager Andrew Berry said he "fully" expected 2018 first-overall draft pick Baker Mayfield to remain Cleveland's starting quarterback through the offseason and summer months, and a later report claimed the Browns confirmed to individuals representing Mayfield at the combine that they plan "to start (Mayfield) in 2022 and not replace him with a veteran QB."
As things stand today, Mayfield will play during the 2022 season on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract worth $18.858 million guaranteed unless the Browns or some other team offer him an extension before Week 1 in September.
More must-reads: