ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 14: Pedro Grifol #5 of the Chicago White Sox looks on prior to a game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on July 14, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images)
In March 2022, the Texans traded what looked at one point to be their franchise quarterback, Deshaun Watson, to the Cleveland Browns after he requested a trade in 2021 and sat out the season. Houston received the Browns’ 2022, 2023 and 2024 first-round picks, along with fourth-rounders in 2022 and 2024 and a third in 2023.
Texans general manager Nick Caserio, who took over in 2021, says he doesn’t think about the deal, even though he turned those assets into five starters including a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro.
“Honestly, that’s so far in the past. You guys are keeping track of that. We haven’t spent one day [or] second talking about ‘Here is the end result,'” Caserio said. “We’re just adding football players to the team with the opportunities that we get, regardless of what trade took place.”
Here’s a look at what the Watson trade turned into for the Texans now that all of the picks are accounted for:
2022
Caserio didn’t stand pat to start. He traded the Browns’ 2022 first-rounder (No. 13) to the Philadelphia Eagles for the Eagles’ first-rounder (No.15) and later picks (Nos. 124, 162 and 166).
The Texans drafted left guard Kenyon Green with the No. 15 pick, and he started 14 games as a rookie. But he allowed a 13% pressure rate — the worst among left guards, according to NextGen Stats.
Green missed last season after injuring his shoulder in the final preseason game, but he is expected to compete for a starting role for this upcoming season — where he appears to have the inside track.
The Texans packaged Pick 124 to acquire the Browns’ second-round pick (No. 44) then selected wide receiver John Metchie III. Metchie missed his rookie season after being diagnosed with cancer, and after returning in Year 2, he finished with 158 yards in 16 games. Going into Year 3, he’s fighting for a spot in the Texans’ deep receiver rotation.
When the Texans selected linebacker Christian Harris in the third round, they traded pick No. 80, their original 2022 third round-pick, and Pick 162 to the Denver Broncos. Through two years, Harris has 175 tackles and is projected to be a starter this season after finishing second in team tackles last season (101).
