After nearly five years of civil litigation, Cleveland Browns‘ QB Deshaun Watson has reached confidential settlements in his final two sexual misconduct cases.
Attorney Tony Buzbee, who represented 26 of the 27 women who filed complaints against the quarterback, confirmed the agreements but declined to reveal their terms.
As reported by TMZ, Watson now has the clean slate he has long sought, though it arrives at an awkward moment for his football future. The Cleveland Browns have already begun to discover they may no longer need him.
Cleveland‘s decision to acquire Watson ahead of the 2022 season remains one of the boldest gambles in recent NFL history.
The franchise surrendered significant draft capital and committed to a fully guaranteed contract for a quarterback who had not played in over a year and carried immense off-field baggage. The bet was on the version of Watson who once looked like a legitimate MVP contender in Houston.
That version never appeared in Cleveland. Across three seasons, Watson‘s production barely reached competent levels, let alone elite. He failed to surpass 1,200 passing yards in any season with the Browns, and his touchdown total peaked at seven.
Achilles injury opens door for younger competition
Watson‘s 2025 season ended before it began after he suffered a torn Achilles tendon. The injury proved devastating for his personal outlook but unexpectedly freeing for Cleveland‘s offense.
Without their struggling veteran, the Browns turned to their draft picks and found unexpected momentum.
Rookie Shedeur Sanders took control late in the season and delivered what Watson could not: wins. Sanders guided Cleveland to three victories over the final seven weeks, earning Pro Bowl alternate recognition – a distinction Watson never came close to during his tenure.
Even before Sanders‘ emergence, fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel had already surpassed Watson on the depth chart. Two first-year quarterbacks outperformed the player Cleveland once mortgaged its future to acquire.
The NFL suspended Watson for 11 games in 2022, fined him $5 million, and required behavioral evaluations. Houston had already benched him for the entire 2021 season as lawsuits mounted.
Between missed seasons, suspension, and continued struggles, Watson has effectively lost four consecutive years of relevance. Now 30 years old and recovering from major surgery, he faces a league that has continued to move on without him.
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