Deshaun Watson‘s performance on the field has not lived up to expectation, but his most recent legal situation has been resolved. The civil suit filed against the Browns quarterback last month has been settled, as first reported by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
“We have now resolved our client’s claim with Deshaun Watson,” a statement from Tony Buzbee (the attorney representing the alleged victim) reads. “The settlement is confidential.”
Watson is alleged to have committed sexual assault against the plaintiff in October 2020. The case is not connected to the other civil suits Watson faced in advance of his debut Browns campaign, but it was signficant since it raised questions about its potential to result in a new suspension. Such a move on the NFL’s part could have created an avenue for Cleveland to void the remaining guarantees owed to Watson, who denied the allegations.
As Florio notes, however, the fact the plaintiff has reached a settlement agreement all-but guarantees she will not speak with the league as part of any NFL investigation. The accuser was originally set to participate in a league probe into the matter, but doing so would have been voluntary. Given today’s news, building a case strong enough to issue a second suspension under the personal conduct policy will be challenging for the league, making further discipline unlikely.
Watson is under contract through 2026, and he is owed $92MM after the current season. The former Texans Pro Bowler was acquired via a blockbuster trade for a package involving three first-round picks, and his fully-guaranteed pact allowed Cleveland to win a bidding war which took place against the backdrop of a looming suspension. After returning from his 2022 ban (which lasted 11 games), Watson posted underwhelming numbers. That remained the case for much of last season, one which was cut short by a shoulder injury.
By nearly any statistical measure, the 29-year-old has been the league’s worst signal-caller so far in 2024. That will not lead to a benching, nor is head coach Kevin Stefanski considering a change in offensive play-calling. Attention will be aimed at the extent to which Watson can rebound on the field, but even if that does not take place a hypothetical pathway to moving on from the remainder of his contract no longer seems to be viable.