Deshaun Watson's Cleveland Browns contract restructured to aid post-2026 salary cap hits
BEREA — The Browns have once again restructured quarterback Deshaun Watson's contract, a league source confirmed for the Beacon Journal.
The deal doesn't change the nearly $73 million cap hit that Watson would be on the Browns salary cap for next season, although a future restructuring before next season could occur. It's more about the dead money that would exist after the contract expires after the 2026 season.
Watson will still be owed $92 million over the final two years of the contract, which he signed when he was traded to the Browns from the Houston Texans in March 2022. The past restructures added a void year in 2027 — with nearly $28 million in dead-cap hit — and another one that did not have any dead-cap money previously in 2028.
This new restructuring likely spreads out that dead-cap burden beyond 2027. The exact details are not officially known.
Watson would've been a nearly $119 million cap hit had the Browns designated him as a post-June 1 roster cut this offseason. It would be nearly $73 million if it was a similar cut in 2026.
Watson will be coming off yet another season-ending injury entering next season. This time, it was a torn Achilles suffered in Week 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals that limited him to just seven starts in 2024.
The 29-year-old underwent surgery on the Achilles on Oct. 25.
The exact timetable for his return remains vague. Assuming the normal recovery time for an Achilles, roughly eight to 12 months, the earliest would be this summer — maybe even near the start of training camp — for him to even get back to anything resembling full football drills.
The Browns have given indications that at least one quarterback could be brought in this offseason to compete for the starting job. Second-year pro Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who's starting Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins, still has two years left on his rookie contract, while both Jameis Winston and Bailey Zappe will be free agents this offseason.
Watson has played a total of 19 games in his first three seasons. The last two have been shortened by season-ending injuries.
Watson was suspended 11 games in 2022 for NFL personal conduct policy violations in connection with more than two dozen lawsuits by women in the Houston area alleging sexual assault and/or sexual misconduct during massage appointments. He missed 11 games last season because of multiple shoulder injuries.
At the time of Watson's injury this season, the Browns offense was arguably the worst in the NFL, ranked 32nd in total yards (253.9) and third-down conversion rate (23.7%), 30th in passing offense (159.6), 29th in points per game (15.6) and tied for 28th in rush offense (94.3). He had completed 63.4% of his passes for 1,148 yards with five touchdowns, three interceptions for a 79.0 passer rating while being sacked 33 times.
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ