The NFL Reportedly Offered Deshaun Watson A 12-Game Suspension & $8M Fine

August 3, 2022, 5:55pm EST (Updated: October 24, 2022, 11:47am)By Darrelle Lincoln

BEREA, OH – JULY 27: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns looks on during Cleveland Browns training camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 27, 2022 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

Before Monday’s ruling that Deshaun Watson would be suspended for the first six games of the 2022 season, the NFL reportedly offered him a deal that he likely should’ve taken given what we know now.

According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, the NFL has been negotiating with Watson’s team about a possible settlement and offered him a 12-game suspension with an $8 million fine but he declined their offer.

Before the ruling on the 6-game suspension to Watson, NFL offered his camp the following deal, per SI:

12-gm suspension and a near-$10M fine.

The $10M fine is the salary amount Watson made last year – that would essentially mean a nearly 2-year suspension

Watson turned it down pic.twitter.com/MyZ92qchwp
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 3, 2022

Per sources, Deshaun Watson and the NFL did engage in further settlement talks in recent days, but neither side felt they got close. The best Watson’s side indicated it would accept was 6-8 games. Best league indicated it was willing to do was 12 games + heavy fine $8 mil range).
— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) August 1, 2022

On Monday, NFL disciplinary officer Judge Sue L. Robinson announced that the Browns QB would be sitting for six games, but the NFL has since appealed that decision. Because of that, Watson will likely get even more games.

Watson was traded to the Browns in March and signed a five-year, $230 million with his new team. He sat out the entire 2021 season after the allegations surfaced.