Deshaun Watson changed his mind. The Browns have their franchise quarterback, one with some extra heavy baggage.

Despite sexual misconduct allegations made by nearly two dozen women against Watson while he was with Houston, Cleveland will make him its starting QB, the face of its organization and the highest-paid player in the NFL.

Watson made the decision Friday to waive his no-trade clause and accept a trade to the Browns after previously rejecting the team, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press.

Watson, who didn’t play last season for the Texans, had informed the Browns on Thursday that he wasn’t coming. However, he had a change of heart, called the team Friday and said he was ready to start fresh in Cleveland, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the imminent trade.

The Browns are paying a hefty price for Watson, sending the Texans three first-round draft picks along with a third- and fourth-rounder for the 26-year-old. Cleveland will get back a fifth-rounder from Houston.

Watson posted a photo on Instagram of him wearing a No. 4 Browns jersey and flexing. He wrote: “Cleveland, LETSSSS GOOOO!! #DawgPound Ready To Work!”

Watson’s also receiving a five-year, $230 million guaranteed contract.

Watson will be joining a Cleveland team with plenty of talent, but one that underachieved last season and has been in search of a franchise quarterback for years. The three-time Pro Bowler became a target of the Browns after a grand jury declined to indict him on sexual misconduct claims made by 22 women.

Watson is still dealing with civil lawsuits from the women, massage therapists who accused him of assault and harassment. He’s also possibly facing a suspension by the NFL for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.

The trade will not affect the league’s inquiry into Watson.

“Any transaction would have no effect on the NFL’s ongoing and comprehensive investigation of the serious allegations against Deshaun Watson,” league spokesman Brian McCarthy said in an email to AP. “Nor would it affect his status under the Collective Bargaining Agreement and the Personal Conduct Policy.

“If the league’s investigation determines that Watson violated the Personal Conduct Policy, discipline may be imposed pursuant to the policy and the CBA.”

Watson’s arrival in Cleveland is certain to trigger a backlash by some fans, but the Browns are comfortable with his character after doing their own investigation of Watson before committing to chasing him.

The team will undoubtedly feel some heat and deal with tough questions about why they’re bringing on Watson despite his off-field issues. As part of their presentation to him in Houston earlier this week, the team outlined a plan to help Watson reshape his image.

Cleveland does have some experience in that area after signing running back Kareem Hunt, who was seen on video shoving a woman when he was with Kansas City. Hunt served an eight-game league suspension for his actions in 2019.

The Browns’ public pursuit of Watson angered incumbent starter Baker Mayfield, who requested a trade. Cleveland turned down Mayfield’s demand before learning Watson had agreed to waive his no-trade clause and jump to the AFC North.

Mayfield will likely be dealt in the next few days and there are several teams that may be interested in signing the 26-year-old. He struggled last season after injuring his left shoulder in Week 2, but has shown he’s capable of being a quality starter after leading the Browns to the playoffs in 2020.

Indianapolis, New Orleans and Seattle are among the possible landing spots for Mayfield.

Watson had also been courted by Atlanta, Carolina and New Orleans. Cleveland seemed to have the longest odds to get him, but he was intrigued by their talented roster, which includes star defensive end Myles Garrett and running back Nick Chubb.

BILLS: Buffalo released starting defensive tackle Star Lotulelei in a move that frees up salary cap space

The ninth-year player had two seasons left on a five-year, $50 million contract he signed with Buffalo in free agency in 2018. Lotulelei was Buffalo’s primary run-stuffer, and had 40 starts in 43 games with the Bills.

CHIEFS: Kansas City agreed with former Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster on a $10.75 million deal for next season, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

The 25-year-old Smith-Schuster caught 323 passes for 3,855 yards and 26 touchdowns during his first five seasons in Pittsburgh, but a shoulder injury limited him to 15 catches for 129 yards in five games last year.

COWBOYS: Dallas is bringing back linebacker Leighton Vander Esch along with safety Malik Hooker and long snapper Jake McQuaide.

Vander Esch will play on a one-year contract worth up to $3 million after the fifth-year option on the 2018 first-round pick’s rookie contract wasn’t picked up.

After a strong rookie season that led to a Pro Bowl invitation, Vander Esch never has matched that production while dealing with injuries. He had surgery for a narrowing of the spinal cord after a neck injury limited him to nine games in 2019.

VIKINGS: Wide receiver Adam Thielen has restructured his contract to give the team salary cap relief, his agency announced, with a new deal that gives him $18 million guaranteed.

Thielen’s previous contract had a cap hit for 2022 of more than $16.8 million that the Vikings can now reduce by lowering his base salary and spreading out his new signing bonus money.

The 31-year-old Thielen, a two-time Pro Bowl pick, missed four games because of an ankle injury in 2021 and had 726 yards and 10 touchdowns.

49ERS: San Francisco agreed to a three-year deal with safety and special teams star George Odum.

A person familiar with the deal said that Odum’s contract is worth $10.95 million.

Odum spent the past four seasons in Indianapolis after being signed in 2018 as an undrafted free agent out of Central Arkansas in 2018. He has done his best work on special teams, where he was a first-team All-Pro in 2020 and is tied for the NFL lead in tackles over the past two seasons with 23.

LIONS: Detroit signed outside linebacker Charles Harris to a $13 million, two-year contract and wide receiver Kalif Raymond to a one-year deal worth nearly $1 million.

Harris, in his fifth season, had career highs with 7 1/2 sacks, 65 tackles and two forced fumbles last season.

Raymond smashed his previous career highs with 48 catches for 576 yards with four touchdowns in 2021. In his first four NFL seasons, he had 19 receptions for 369 yards and one touchdown.

BEARS: Chicago’s signing of unrestricted free agent defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi has been negated because of a failed physical.

Ogunjobi suffered an ankle injury during the Cincinnati Bengals’ wild-card win over the Las Vegas Raiders and was lost for the remainder of the playoffs.

Ogunjobi was the most established player the Bears signed in free agency so far as they try to rebuild their defensive line. According to an NFL Network report, the Bears agreed to pay him $40.5 million over three years.

PANTHERS: Carolina agreed to terms with free agent defensive tackle Matt Ioannidis from the Washington Commanders and linebacker Damien Wilson from the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Ioannidis played six seasons for the Commanders and also played under Panthers Coach Matt Rhule at Temple.

Wilson, 28, is a seven-year NFL veteran. He started 17 games for the Jaguars last season and had a career-high 106 tackles with three sacks, an interception and a forced fumble.

RAIDERS: Las Vegas signed free agent running back Ameer Abdullah to a one-year deal.

Abdullah has played seven seasons in the NFL for Detroit, Minnesota and Carolina. He had 51 carries for 166 yards and 38 catches for 289 yards and a TD last season for the Vikings and Panthers.

FALCONS: Atlanta bolstered its secondary by signing former Raiders cornerback Casey Hayward to a two-year, $11 million contract and re-signing Isaiah Oliver to a one-year deal.

The Falcons also announced the signing of running back Damien Williams to a one-year contract.

SEAHAWKS: Seattle is reuniting with defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson, agreeing to terms on a two-year deal.

The Seahawks also released defensive ends Carlos Dunlap and Kerry Hyder Jr.

Jefferson, 28, is coming off the most productive season of his career. He started all 17 games for the Las Vegas Raiders and set career highs in tackles (47), sacks (4 1/2) and forced fumbles (two).

TITANS: A person familiar with the deal says Tennessee has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with veteran tight end Austin Hooper.

Hooper was released by Cleveland on Thursday after not living up to the four-year, $42 million contract he signed as a free agent two years ago.

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