When teams trade picks, there's a feeling that the trade can't be fully evaluated until all the picks are in. Two years later, we can finally close the book on the Deshaun Watson trade.
The Browns sent a massive package of draft picks to the Texans in exchange for Watson, the embattled quarterback who faced more than 20 accusations of sexual assault at the time. Cleveland immediately signed Watson to a new five-year, $230 million. The contract was fully guaranteed, an unheard-of move for a deal of that size and an idea other owners have since rebuked in all other contracts.
The deal was perceived as lopsided at the time considering the uncertainty of Watson's play given his extensive absence away from the game, his cloudy legal future, and the massive contract. Watson was suspended for 11 games by the NFL, but a grand jury declined to indict Watson on criminal charges. He settled 21 civil cases, but one suit remains open.
Watson has been both injury-prone and ineffective since returning to the field. A shoulder injury limited him to only six games in 2023. In his 12 total games with the Browns, he has completed 59.8 percent of his passes for 2,217 yards, 14 touchdowns, and nine interceptions while rushing 62 times for 317 yards and two touchdowns.
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During his time with the Texans, Watson had completed 67.8 percent of his passes for 14,539 yards with 104 touchdowns and 36 picks in 54 games. He added 307 carries for 1,677 yards and 17 touchdowns.
How did the picks traded between the Browns and Texans wind up turning out? Here's what you need to know.
Deshaun Watson trade, revisited
- Browns receive: QB Deshaun Watson, 2024 sixth
- Texans receive: 2022 first, 2022 fourth, 2023 first, 2023 third, 2024 first, 2024 fourth
Houston received three first-round picks, a third, and two fourths. The Browns also received a sixth-round pick from the Texans along with Watson.
The Texans wound up trading most of the picks received from the Browns. Here's what became of each pick:
- 2022 first: traded to Eagles for 2022 first, 2022 fourth, and two 2022 fifths
- 2022 fourth: RB Dameon Pierce
- 2023 first: traded to Cardinals with 2023 second, 2024 first, 2024 third for 2023 first and 2023 fourth
- 2023 third: traded to Rams with 2023 fifth for 2023 third and 2023 sixth
- 2024 first: traded to Vikings with 2024 seventh for 2024 second, 2024 sixth and 2025 second
- 2024 fourth: traded to Eagles with 2024 third for 2024 third (later re-acquired)
That's a lot of trades. What about the players? Here's who the Texans ended up with when the dust settled on all those trades:
- G Kenyon Green
- RB Dameon Pierce
- EDGE Will Anderson Jr.
- WR Tank Dell
- CB Kamari Lassiter
- LB Jamal Hill
- S Caden Bullock
Additionally, the pick the Texans traded to the Eagles and later re-acquired turned into tight end Cade Stover.
Green struggled as a rookie, grading out as the lowest-ranked guard in the NFL, per PFF. He missed the entire 2023 campaign due to a shoulder injury.
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Pierce was a revelation for the Texans in 2022, rushing for 939 yards and four touchdowns on 220 carries. He saw a more limited role in 2023 as Devin Singletary's backup after struggling with injuries. He finished with just 145 carries, 416 yards, and two touchdowns.
Anderson won the 2023 Defensive Rookie of the Year award, racking up seven sacks, 45 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 22 quarterback hits. PFF graded him as the 21st EDGE out of 112, and he's a clear building block of the franchise.
Dell found immediate chemistry with Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud and was one of his top receivers before he fractured his fibula in Week 13. He finished the season with 47 catches for 709 yards and seven touchdowns.
The exact picks, where the Browns would have drafted had they kept the picks, turned into:
- DT Jordan Davis
- RB Dameon Pierce
- RB Jahmyr Gibbs
- WR Jalin Hyatt
- WR Brian Thomas Jr.
- TE Cade Stover
As for the Browns' sixth-rounder, that wound up being a pick traded to the Broncos for Jerry Jeudy. It was ultimately used by the Panthers on defensive tackle Jaden Crumedy.
The picks are all in. It's still early to determine exactly how each player will turn out, but it's clear the Browns gave up a hefty amount of talent to acquire Watson.
