The initial terms of the trade that sent Deshaun Watson from the Texans to the Browns were enough to make your head spin. But what Houston opted to do with many of those picks will make you feel like lying down for a brief period.
The initial haul that the Texans received for Watson, as well the players that Houston ended selecting (many via trade) currently looks as follows:
Browns receive:
- QB Deshaun Watson
- 2024 6th round pick
Texans receive:
- *2022 first-round pick (No. 13): Texas A&M G Kenyon Green
- *2023 first-round pick (No. 12): Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr.
- 2022 fourth-round pick (No. 107): Florida RB Dameon Pierce
- *2023 third-round pick (No. 73): Houston WR Tank Dell
- 2024 first-round pick
- 2024 fourth-round pick
*Pick was traded, additional information below
- 2022 first-round pick (No. 13) traded to Eagles for picks Nos. 15, 124, 162, 166
- No. 124 pick traded with No. 68 to Browns for No. 44—drafted Alabama WR John Metchie III
- Browns selected kicker Cade York at No. 124, who was released in late August, 2023
- No. 162 traded with No. 80 to Broncos for pick No. 75—drafted Alabama LB Christian Harris
- No. 166 traded with No. 207 to Bears for pick No. 150—drafted Stanford DT Thomas Booker
- 2023 first-rounder (No. 12), No. 33, 2024 first & third-round picks traded to Cardinals and for No. 3 overall and No. 105—drafted Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr.
- 2023 third-round pick (No. 73) traded with No. 161 to Rams for No. 69, No. 191—drafted Houston WR Tank Dell
David J. Phillip/AP
List of Players Texans Have Added From Browns Trade
In total to this point, the trade that sent Watson to the Browns has brought back:
- RB Dameon Pierce
- WR Tank Dell
- Edge rusher Will Anderson Jr.
- Guard Kenyon Green
- WR John Metchie III
- LB Christian Harris
- DT Thomas Booker (no longer with team)
- Two 2024 draft picks with a first-round selection and fourth-rounder still pending
Outlook for Browns After Deshaun Watson Trade
As cited above, the Browns struck another trade with the Texans during the 2022 NFL draft, selecting kicker Cade York, who was released in Aug. 2023. They also still have a 2024 sixth-round pick pending.
As for the acquisition of Watson, it’s been a mixed bag of results after the quarterback signed a five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million contract extension with Cleveland. He’s led the team to an 8–4 record as a starter but has completed just 59.8% of his passes for 2,217 yards, 14 passing touchdowns and nine interceptions in 12 games. His yards per passing attempt have checked in 6.5 in each of the past two seasons, more than a full yard lower than any season during his time in Houston.
After playing in just six of Cleveland’s first nine games in 2023, the team announced Watson would undergo season-ending surgery on a broken bone in his throwing shoulder.
