On Friday afternoon, Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson finally made up his mind on where he wants to play next.
According to multiple reports, Watson waived his no-trade clause to play for the Cleveland Browns. No, that’s not an error. Despite reports from earlier in the week that the Browns were out of the running, Watson appears to have changed his mind.
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport has a good reason why. “Deshaun Watson gets a fully guaranteed 5 year $230M contract,” Rapoport reported on Twitter. “That is $80M more than the previous record for fully guaranteed money at signing ($150M).”
More than one analyst thinks the massive contract guarantee from the Browns helped lure Watson to Cleveland.
“I won’t go here. I won’t go there. Here’s $230 million. I will go there,” NFL analyst Pete Prisco said.
I won’t go here. I won’t go there. Here’s $230 million. I will go there.
— Pete Prisco (@PriscoCBS) March 18, 2022
Others noted the two major acquisitions the Browns have made over the past week.
“Watson throwing to Amari Cooper this fall,” one person said.
Watson throwing to Amari Cooper this fall. https://t.co/R9TxfdlIJV
— Andrew Bone (@AndrewJBone) March 18, 2022
ESPN’s Ryan Clark couldn’t get over how stacked the AFC quarterback list is.
“Well guys!! The AFC is now QB heaven… If you are a Pro Bowl QB in the AFC then you’re an absolute football god!! This is nuts,” he said.
Well guys!! The AFC is now QB heaven… If you are a Pro Bowl QB in the AFC then you’re an absolute football god!! This is nuts https://t.co/COxRcMGTed
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) March 18, 2022
Watson now joins two other elite AFC North quarterbacks in Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson.
The post Deshaun Watson Makes Stunning Decision: Fans React appeared first on The Spun.