Watson reconsiders, is traded to Browns

Deshaun Watson changed his mind. The Browns have their franchise quarterback, one with some extra heavy baggage.

Despite sexual misconduct allegations made by nearly two dozen women against Watson while he was with Houston, Cleveland will make him its starting QB, the face of its organization and the highest-paid player in the NFL.

Watson waived his notrade clause Friday and accepted a trade to the Browns after previously rejecting the team — a stunning reversal that rocked the NFL and changed the trajectory of two organizations.

The Texans announced the agreement with the Browns, one of four teams to actively court Watson this week.

The three-time Pro Bowler, who didn’t play last season, had informed the Browns on Thursday that he wasn’t coming. However, he had a change of heart, called them Friday and said he was ready to start fresh in Cleveland, said a person who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.

The Browns are paying a hefty price for Watson. They’re sending the Texans first-round draft picks the next three years plus a 2023 third-round pick and 2024 fourth-round pick. Watson’s also receiving a five-year, $230 million guaranteed contract, a record.

Watson had his best season in 2020, leading the league with 4,823 yards passing along with 33 touchdowns.

While they wait to welcome Watson, the Browns have agreed to trade backup quarterback Case Keenum to Buffalo and sign free agent QB Jacoby Brissett, a person familiar with the deals told The Associated Press on Saturday.

Cleveland is sending Keenum to Buffalo for a seventh-round draft pick in 2022, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the teams have not announced the deal.

Keenum has spent the past two seasons behind Baker Mayfield in Cleveland. But with the Browns trading for Watson and set to deal Mayfield at any moment, the team decided to completely change the quarterback situation and move on from Keenum as well.

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Rams: Quarterback Matthew Stafford has agreed to a four-year contract extension through 2026 with Los Angeles after winning the Super Bowl in his first season with the team.

The deal signed by Stafford on Saturday is worth $160 million, with $135 million guaranteed, according to ESPN.

Stafford is cashing in on his spectacular debut season with the Rams after 12 seasons with the Detroit Lions, who traded the 2009 No. 1 overall pick to Los Angeles a year ago.

Stafford would be 38 years old in the final season of the extension.

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