In a jaw-dropping move, the Cleveland Browns have reportedly agreed to trade quarterback Deshaun Watson to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for quarterback Trey Lance, and three first-round draft picks (2025, 2026,

The Deshaun Watson trade was a significant National Football League trade made on March 18, 2022, centered on sending quarterback Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans to the Cleveland Browns.

The quarterback and a Texans 2024 sixth round selection was exchanged for Cleveland’s 2022 first and fourth round selections, 2023 first and third round selections, and 2024 first and fourth round selections.[1]

Deshaun Watson with the Cleveland Browns during training camp in 2023.
QB Deshaun Watson with the Cleveland Browns in 2023, following his trade from the Houston Texans.

The trade and ensuing contract, guaranteeing Deshaun Watson $230 million, is currently considered by some sports media outlets and analysts to be one of the worst trades in the history of the NFL.[2][3][4][5][6] This is in part due to the perceived lopsidedness of the first round picks granted to the Texans that were used to draft several Pro Bowlers and starting players including Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr. paired with Offensive Rookie of the Year quarterback C. J. Stroud.

Also related, Baker Mayfield, the Browns’ previous starting quarterback who was traded to the Carolina Panthers in the aftermath of the trade, saw success on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, leading them to a division title and playoff victory in a Pro Bowl 2023 season, and has continued to be one of the league’s more efficient quarterbacks in 2024.

Watson’s play in the same time frame was marred by a lack of efficiency compared to his time on the Texans, as well as back-to-back season ending injuries in 2023 and 2024.

The trade also received significant criticism due to it occurring in the midst of a series of sexual assault lawsuits filed against Watson, with many outlets describing the trade as bringing significant PR baggage to the Cleveland Browns franchise and making it and its organization much more difficult to support on an ethical basis.[2][5][6]