Texans Fined, Forfeit Draft Pick For Salary Cap Violation Involving Deshaun Watson

Despite it being almost one year since trading Deshaun Watson to the Cleveland Browns, the Houston Texans still are dealing with negative consequences from Watson's time in Houston.

The Texans will forfeit their fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and were fined $175,000 for a salary cap reporting violation involving Watson from the 2020 season, the NFL announced Thursday.

The league found the Texans provided Watson with "undisclosed compensation in the form of a membership to an alternative athletic facility." Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, NFL teams must report any compensation given to a player.

Houston believes the violation was an "accounting error" stemming from a $26,000 payment for Watson to use a local facility during the COVID-19 pandemic, ESPN reported.

"The Club has fully cooperated with the league in its investigation of these matters and maintains it had no intention to circumvent any salary cap rules or gain any sort of competitive advantage," the Texans wrote in a statement. "While we disagree with the league's ruling, we will accept the imposed discipline and move forward."

The Texans still own 10 total picks in the 2023 draft, including the third and 12th overall selections. Houston could gain more when the NFL releases the official list of compensatory selections.

The Texans traded Watson to the Browns last offseason for a package including three first-round picks after the quarterback demanded a trade before the 2021 season.

Watson was suspended for the first 11 games of the 2022 season and fined $5 million for violating the NFL's personal-conduct policy. The suspension came after the NFL investigated claims of 24 massage therapists who accused Watson of sexual assault.