NFL Rumors: Browns Made This Change To Deshaun Watson’s Contract

Deshaun Watson was sued last Monday, and as the quarterback’s legal troubles mount, all the discussion was around his hefty Browns contract.

The 29-year-old signed a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract after Cleveland acquired him from the Houston Texans in 2022. Watson also reached settlements with over two dozen women who accused him of sexual misconduct. Twenty-four women filed lawsuits alleging assault or harassment by the signal-caller between 2020 and 2021. His latest lawsuit came from a woman accusing him of sexual assault that allegedly occurred in October 2020.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski and the Browns organization stood behind their quarterback amid the allegations and lawsuits, and the NFL did not place the QB on any reserve list since the lawsuits were civil cases and not criminal. But Watson was suspended for six games to start the 2022 season by arbiter Sue Lewis Robinson.

However, according to FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer on Sunday, Cleveland “quietly” removed a clause from Watson’s contract that would have protected him from suspension. If the signal-caller is ever suspended again, the Browns could reclaim their money.

Glazer later explained on social media that the protection clause was there for the 2022-23 season but removed when the contract was restricted for 2024-26.

Stefanski affirmed Watson as his starter despite the QB’s poor Week 1, but things could change if things don’t improve for the quarterback on or off the field.