Texans Lose 5th-Round Pick, Fined For Deshaun Watson Salary-Cap Violation
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HOUSTON — The Houston Texans are now down to 10 picks entering the 2023 NFL Draft, with the team forfeiting their fifth-round pick (No. 137 overall) for a salary-cap violation involving former star quarterback Deshaun Watson.
The NFL ruled that the Texans violated the league's COVID-19 protocols by providing Watson an off-site athletic facility in 2020 for workout purposes when NRG Stadium was closed due to the pandemic.
In addition to losing a fifth-round pick, the NFL has also fined the Texans $175,000. The Texans released a statement not agreeing to the ruling but will comply.
"During the 2020 league year and while its facilities were closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Club absorbed $26,777 in costs for player benefits for the use of alternate athletic facilities, which it understands should have been charged instead to player salaries.
"The Club has fully cooperated with the League in its investigation of these matters and maintains that it had no intention to circumvent any salary cap rules or gain any sort of competitive advantage. While we disagree with the League's ruling, we will accept the imposed discipline and move forward."
The Texans' involvement with Watson took place ahead of the 2020 campaign, his last active season in Houston, before requesting a trade the following year.
On March 18, Watson waived his no-trade clause in favor of the Cleveland Browns. Houston received a massive haul of draft picks in exchange for Watson.
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