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It appears Deshaun Watson was even closer to joining the Falcons than originally thought.
Before the trade that sent the controversial quarterback to Cleveland, Watson was reportedly very close to a move that would send him to Atlanta instead. So close, according to ESPN, that he corresponded with Bucs running back Leonard Fournette and former Browns receiver Jarvis Landry over FaceTime about joining forces in the AFC South.
“As of Thursday night, the feeling was Watson expected to go to Atlanta,” the report read. “And Atlanta thought it had Watson, who was considering the pass-catching weapons who could join him there — until Cleveland came with a deal that would be nearly impossible to refuse.”
That deal from Cleveland, agreed to last Friday, included a $230 million contract extension for the quarterback that was fully guaranteed. And so, the Falcons dream was dead.
The Falcons alway seemed like a dark horse candidate for Watson’s services, as their roster is largely void of impact players. They have young pass-catching tight end Kyle Pitts, do-it-all weapon Cordarrelle Patterson and stud cornerback A.J. Terrell, but not much else. Calvin Ridley, their best wide receiver, is suspended for a year after he placed bets on NFL games.
Watson ended up joining the Browns, who recently traded for Amari Cooper and have good young pieces on the offensive and defensive line. The Browns sent three first-round draft picks to Houston in exchange.
Fournette re-signed with the Buccaneers this week, while Landry – who was released by the Browns earlier this offseason — remains a free agent.
Watson has been accused by 22 women – all massage therapists – of various counts of sexual misconduct. A grand jury determined he will not face criminal charges, but he still faces numerous civil suits over the incidents.
He may also face a suspension by the league, though the Browns structured his contract to only pay him $1 million in 2022 should that come to pass.
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