Browns QB Deshaun Watson reportedly settles recent sexual assault lawsuit

Content Warning: This article contains depictions of alleged sexual assault.

According to Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot, a new sexual assault lawsuit against Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has been confidentially settled.

The lawsuit, which led to a re-examination by the NFL, accused Watson of sexual assault and battery, as well as intentional infliction of emotional distress. It was similar to the nearly two dozen that were first filed against him while he was playing for the Houston Texans, but was unrelated to the original claims.

The terms of the settlement are not known.

Watson is again charged with sexual assault

Watson’s accuser filed her lawsuit anonymously last month, saying she was supposed to go on a date with Watson in October 2020. According to the lawsuit, Watson had difficulty finding her apartment before the date and called her, but he started off “aggressively.” screaming and shouting” on the phone.

After that was resolved and Watson entered the apartment, the woman invited Watson to wait in her living room while she got ready. She said she kept trying to talk to Watson from the bathroom while she was applying makeup, but he stopped responding.

When the woman came out of the bathroom, she said she found Watson “completely naked on her bed, lying face down on her stomach.”

The woman said Watson then suddenly grabbed her leg, partially undressed her and penetrated her vagina without consent. Watson allegedly attacked her for several minutes, but she then escaped from under him and yelled at him to leave her apartment, which he eventually did.

The allegations are similar to the more than 20 allegations of sexual misconduct made against Watson during his time with the Texans. Watson has not been criminally prosecuted, most of those lawsuits have also been settled confidentially, and he has long denied any wrongdoing. In the most recent lawsuit he also denied the allegations made against him.

Based on the initial investigation, Watson has been suspended for 11 games in 2022. Because of Watson’s situation, the NFL also expanded its sexual assault policies and penalties. The league is currently investigating the new allegations to determine whether Watson violated the league’s personal conduct policy and whether such violation requires additional disciplinary action.

Despite the initial wave of allegations against him, the Browns signed Watson to a record-breaking, fully guaranteed $230 million contract. The team has since restructured that deal twice and he has largely struggled on the field. He only appeared in six games in each of the last two seasons, first because of the suspension and then again because of numerous injuries last year.

In Sunday’s 34-13 loss to the Washington Commanders, Watson went 15 of 28 for just 125 yards with one touchdown. He has never thrown for more than 200 yards in a single game this season while leading the Browns to a 1-4 start.

If the Browns were to cut Watson in 2025, they would face $172 million in dead cap hits. The team would have to pay $99 million if they cut him in 2026 as well. Both figures would set a new record for the highest revenue in NFL history. Despite his struggles and recent off-field issues, the Browns appear to be sticking with Watson for now.