In a significant development, all civil lawsuits against Deshaun Watson, the quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, have now reached a conclusion nearly five years after the first one was filed.
According to Brent Schrotenboer from USA Today, the final two of the total 27 lawsuits have been dismissed. Initially set to go to trial in February and March of 2026, these cases were officially dismissed with prejudice on January 6, which strongly suggests that they were settled out of court.
The allegations against Watson involve claims of inappropriate behavior during massage therapy sessions, which have garnered considerable public attention. One of the plaintiffs involved in the last few lawsuits was Lauren Baxley, who was notable for previously refusing to settle her claim, thus marking her as one of the initial accusers in this case.
Tony Buzbee, the attorney representing Baxley, confirmed the resolution of the case, stating, "Case is settled. That's all I can say about it. That’s the last case, so that ends my involvement with Deshaun Watson litigation." Buzbee played a key role, managing 26 out of the 27 lawsuits related to this matter.
The controversy began when Watson's legal team declined to engage in settlement talks regarding the first lawsuit, which subsequently led to a surge in additional claims against him. This situation culminated in a significant disciplinary measure, resulting in a 10-game suspension for Watson during the 2022 season.
Despite the resolution of these legal matters, Watson has struggled to regain the exceptional performance that had previously established him as one of the premier quarterbacks in the NFL. His last standout season occurred in 2020 while he was still with the Houston Texans, where he achieved an impressive 4,823 passing yards. Following that, he did not participate in the 2021 season as he awaited a trade, and he also missed the first ten games of the 2022 season due to the suspension. In the midst of these events, the Browns made a bold move, signing Watson to a lucrative five-year contract worth $230 million, fully guaranteed—a decision that raised eyebrows across the league.
Currently, Watson remains under contract until 2026, and the Browns have expressed their intention to retain him on their roster moving forward.
As this story unfolds, what are your thoughts on the implications of the settlements and how they might affect Watson's career trajectory? Do you believe the Browns made the right decision in their investment considering the turbulence surrounding him? Share your opinions below!
