The DeShaun Watson saga is far from over. Now that the NFL season has ended, the civil legal proceedings can begin. Watson can now be questioned under oath as the opposing lawyers will look to depose him.

 

In March and April of 2021, 22 women filed civil suits against the Watson. The former Clemson superstar was accused of a pattern of coercive and lewd behavior. Two of the women even claimed sexual assault against the Houston quarterback..

This past season, the Houston Texans opted not to let Watson play. That allowed the NFL to remain relatively silent on the matter. The Miami Dolphins reportedly were interested in trading for the Houston star QB, but required that all of the civil suits be taken care of. That has not happened.

The criminal probe into the Houston quarterback is still ongoing. In October of 2021, search warrants were served, targeting Watson’s social media apps. A grand jury is currently looking into the claims against him, with a result expected soon. If Watson is charged with one or more felonies, he will likely be placed on paid leave.

However, if there are only misdemeanors charged, a plea deal would potentially be the outcome. That would allow Watson to then look to settle the civil suits against him. Based on what happened with former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Watson could then face a suspension from the NFL.

Things could get very interesting as the offseason plays out. A lot of teams are in need of a quarterback and will be following the situation closely.