The Cleveland Browns have added quarterback Deshaun Watson this offseason. While Watson is beyond reproach athletically, it is currently unclear if he will ever play a game for the Browns. The franchise is in danger of a developmental setback.

Munich/Cleveland – It was the blockbuster trade of the offseason: Deshaun Watson left the Houston Texans and joined the Cleveland Browns, where he also received a new contract.

230 million dollars for Watson – guaranteed! Actually, the deal would not be worth mentioning at all if there were not the realistic chance that Watson would not play a single game in a Browns jersey. Those Browns, blinded by the prospect of the big throw, have gambled dangerously – and may lose everything.

Legal situation around Watson comes to a head

The situation: 24 civil lawsuits for sexual harassment are currently pending against the 26-year-old. Watson allegedly solicited several dozen female masseuses via social media and in some cases had them flown in.

While he denied the allegations for months, he recently admitted to having sexual intercourse with some of the women. However, he insists that this was consensual.

Nevertheless, the situation seems to be coming to a head. After civil lawsuits number 23 and 24 were filed in the past few days, the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Tony Buzbee, now also wants to pillory the Houston Texans. According to the lawyer, the Texans knew about the misconduct of their then playmaker but did nothing about it.

Although the NFL announced a few weeks ago that “the investigation is drawing to a close”, that was before the new developments in the Watson case. There is no telling when this will come to an end.

Everything on the Watson card

In Cleveland, meanwhile, they’re doing everything they can to publicly stay out of the legal issues. “We had a very good practice today, that’s all I’m commenting on,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday during a media availability on the sidelines of minicamp. Defensive end Myles Garrett also recently brushed off any Watson questions. “I’m not the judge here,” he said.

“I let the legal things be legal things,” Stefanski explained. Asked if the lawsuit could weigh on his team, he said only: “I’m not a psychic. My focus is on today and my focus is on tomorrow. “

Although the Browns knew about the allegations, they signed Watson, of all people, to the first fully guaranteed multi-year contract for a quarterback in the NFL. The Ohio franchise is gambling and putting all its eggs in the number four basket.

But even if Watson is not locked up, the Browns have put their future on the line. They gave up three first-round picks plus two more picks. Up to and including 2026, the cap space was burdened with 55 million US dollars. That is more than a quarter of the current salary cap. A heavy mortgage for years to come, whether with Watson on the field or possibly in prison.

Plan B for 2022 – and then?

Experts believe the trial will probably last at least well into next year. Whether Watson is suspended is solely at the discretion of the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell. Whether that will happen is also still up in the air. But with each additional allegation against the quarterback, it becomes more likely.

The Browns have a loophole in Watson’s contract should he not be able to play next season. In 2022, he will only earn around ten million dollars, which is just as much against the Browns’ cap. They also signed Jacoby Brissett as a backup, who has already proven he can win games as a starter in the NFL.

But what about 2023 and beyond? What is certain is that the Browns have driven themselves to salary hell. The trade-off, a top quarterback and the prospect of winning the Super Bowl, was probably too tempting for the worst franchise of the millennium in terms of wins.

The Browns undoubtedly went “all in” with Watson. But the risk was never so great for any team.