WATCH: NFL insider explains why Deshaun Watson chose Cleveland Browns

Deshaun Watson’s decision to join the Cleveland Browns might seem puzzling at first, but insider Ian Rapoport believes it makes plenty of sense. The three-time Pro Bowler quarterback is set to receive a five-year, $230 million contract as part of the trade between Cleveland and Houston, which certainly doesn’t hurt.

He is also set to join an offense that recently acquired receiver Amari Cooper from the Dallas Cowboys and returns a talented running back duo of Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb. In a recent appearance on NFL Network, Rapoport broke down all this as well as what this move means for the future of the Browns franchise.

From our breaking news coverage: Deshaun Watson chose the #Browns for football reasons — their roster is stacked and they are ready to win. pic.twitter.com/AjaIoP9dWs

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 18, 2022

“Here we have Deshaun Watson, who had a lot of really good options — had the Panthers, had the Saints, had the Falcons — and chose the Cleveland Browns, a team that has searched literally forever to find a quarterback,” Rapoport said. “He chose them as the place where he was going to be their franchise quarterback. The money helped, definitely get it, but it is for football reasons. He chose them for football reasons. He thought it was the best place for him to win football games and that makes a lot of sense.

“They’ve got a good offensive line, they’ve got a good defense. They’ve got a receiver group that is being reshaped. They got Amari Cooper, that helps, and two ballers at running back. This makes a lot of sense for Deshaun Watson. The immediate future on the field, we’ll see what happens with a potential league suspension. Obviously we do not know. Right now it is possible. But this is something the Cleveland Browns did for the next 10 years, not for this year. That jersey where you write all the quarterbacks names then cross them out and write other names then cross them out and have more names? It can have one name. Deshaun Watson is going to be the quarterback for the Cleveland Browns for a very long time.”

Deshaun Watson’s new contract will be fully guaranteed, shattering the NFL record for most guaranteed money by $80 million. The previous record was set by Aaron Rodgers at $150.6 million, which surpassed Josh Allen’s $150 million.

Watson sat out the entire 2021 season while under investigation after 22 women filed complaints against him for sexual assault and harassment. However, a grand jury recently decided that he will not face criminal charges in any of the cases against him.

Although that investigation is over with, Watson is still awaiting word from the NFL on whether it will dole out any suspension for the incident. Under the terms of his new contract, he would lose $55,555 per game he is suspended. Watson led the NFL with 4,823 passing yards in 2020, while also recording 444 yards on the ground and scoring 36 total touchdowns.