Deshaun Watson

Browns Rookie QBs Likely To Receive Fewer Reps In OTAs

May 24th, 2025 at 10:48pm CST by Ely Allen

As the Browns look forward to Organized Team Activities, head coach Kevin Stefanski reflected on what he’s seen thus far in the team’s offseason program. According to ESPN’s Tony Grossi, Stefanski seemed to indicate that the narrative that all four quarterbacks will be competing for the starting job is losing steam.

Technically, Cleveland rosters five quarterbacks. Incumbent starter Deshaun Watson remains under contract with the Browns, but there’s a decent chance he won’t be available in 2025. The 29-year-old’s lackluster 2024 campaign ended when he suffered an Achilles tendon tear, and when news of a second Achilles tear surfaced in January, his availability for next season immediately came into question. He can’t be entirely ruled out, though, as we saw reports this week that Watson had shed his walking boot and resumed throwing.

That being said, Watson will not be a factor during the remainder of the team’s offseason program. The four passers participating this summer are veteran Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. With so many low-dollar contracts involved, one would think that he starting job is up for grabs and anyone’s to take. That doesn’t appear to be the case, per Stefanski’s comments.

When asked how reps will be divided among the four, Stefanski gave the impression that it will not be done with an even 25 percent split. “It’s not going to be that way,” he told reporters. “The big thing for us is making sure we give the guys enough reps that they need, making sure they have enough for both learning the system and developing and for us to evaluate them.”

It looks like the veterans, Flacco and Pickett, will get the majority of the reps, and Gabriel and Sanders will need to make up for their lack of playing time with virtual reality technology via the team’s new virtual walk-through room. It seems the virtual reality trend, made popular by Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, is extending its reach. Daniels adopted the practice at LSU and made its implementation a requirement for any team that drafted him. As a result, Daniels turned in one of the greatest rookie seasons we’ve seen out of a quarterback, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year and taking Washington to the NFC Championship.

The Browns will count on this technology now to help bring their rookies up to NFL speed. “VR can be a big tool, especially for young players,” Stefanski said. “It’s really dependent on the player, how they like it. That’s something we’ll definitely be working with the next three weeks.”

Stefanski didn’t give a timeline for when the team will make its decisions. Grossi points out that two-day joint practice sessions with other teams serve as crucial practices for Stefanski’s decision-making, and the Brown will get two such sessions before their preseason games with the Panthers and Eagles. He did say, though, that the staff would make a plan for training camp based on what they see in the next month or so.

At the moment, it seems Flacco’s experience gives him the edge. The 40-year-old passer has 17 seasons of NFL play under his belt, has won a Super Bowl, and has successful experience as the starting quarterback in Cleveland’s system. From there, the next few weeks will be crucial for Pickett, Gabriel, and Sanders to establish themselves and gain ground in the position battle.

Browns’ Deshaun Watson Resumes Throwing

May 19th, 2025 at 11:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jimmy Haslam‘s admission on the 2022 Deshaun Watson trade could certainly be interpreted as the Browns closing the book on an expensive failure, and the team is now holding what appears to be a four-man derby for the starting job.

This effort, which consists entirely of low-cost contracts, came about because of both Watson’s failure to impress when available and his run of injury trouble. Watson has sustained two Achilles tears since October, seemingly moving him out of the picture in Cleveland. As Shedeur Sanders and third-round pick Dillon Gabriel receive considerable attention as prospective starters — joining Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett in this mix — Watson appears to be working his way back into the equation.

The embattled quarterback has shed his walking boot and has resumed throwing, the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot reports. Watson has been throwing to Jerry Jeudy and David Bell at the team’s facility, with Cabot indicating he shed the boot weeks ago. This certainly does not mean Watson will resume command here, as it is not even known if he will throw another pass with Cleveland, but it is an interesting development considering the team’s QB efforts this offseason.

Word of Watson’s second Achilles tear surfaced in mid-January, and Haslam labeled the trade a mistake in April. Watson, 29, submitted a woeful run of performances before his first tear occurred last season. Kevin Stefanski repeatedly insisted he would not bench the high-priced QB, but the former Texans Pro Bowler had not been close to what the Browns hoped when they (via an outlier $230MM guarantee) beat out the Falcons, Saints and Panthers for him. Cleveland went three years without a first-round pick thanks to the trade, and it passed on Travis Hunter to acquire a 2026 first-round pick — and it should be expected the team will be closely linked to the ’26 QB class as a result.

Watson’s albatross contract, repeatedly restructured (most recently in March), still runs through 2026. The Browns would be on the hook for an unfathomable dead money amount if they cut him next year; they would surely spread the $131.16MM across two years via a post-June 1 designation. Cleveland is also setting up for a potential battle via an insurance measure taken out on the contract. Watson being unable to play this season puts a $44.27MM sum in play for the Browns to recover. Although the team could collect on other components of the policy to help soften the blow of an inevitable divorce, Watson being healthy enough to play in 2025 would affect a sizable chunk of the return.

News of the second tear was believed set to sideline Watson for most or all of the 2025 season, and the Browns responded by trading for a passer, signing another and then drafting two more. PFR’s poll about which one would log the most starts this season did include Watson, but few expect him to play a notable role for the team this season. Watson’s recovery, however, will be a storyline to follow, as the Browns look to be prepared to move on.

It will be interesting to learn about a potential clearance expectation later this year. Watson is likely to begin the season on the Browns’ reserve/PUP list, but if he receives clearance during the season, seeing how the team handles it will become a front-burner matter. The Texans made Watson a healthy scratch throughout the 2021 season, as the QB’s list of sexual assault and/or sexual misconduct accusers piled up after he had requested a trade. A similar plan could conceivably form in Cleveland, should Watson be ready to go at some point later this year.

Poll: Who Will Make Most Starts At QB For 2025 Browns?

April 27th, 2025 at 11:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the Browns follow the Texans in constructing an extended departure ramp for Deshaun Watson, they have since added four quarterbacks. Each of the players would have a path to starting for a team that saw its highest-paid passer wildly disappoint before suffering two Achilles tears.

As Watson rehabs, the Browns are effectively moving on (though, a monumental dead money hit will loom if that happens in 2026). And the draft brought an unusual outcome. The Browns surprised most by taking Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel late in the third round. Gabriel came off the board 94th, shortly after Jalen Milroe but a full round before Shedeur Sanders. Widely anticipated to go in the first or second rounds, Sanders tumbled to 144th overall. The Browns stopped his skid hours after Andrew Berry had deemed Gabriel a better fit.

Becoming the rare team to select two quarterbacks in the same draft, the Browns added the rookies to a position group housing Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco. (Flacco’s return and the ensuing draft moves will cut off a Kirk Cousins-to-Cleveland path.) The former arrived via trade in March, while the latter is back for a second tour of duty in Cleveland. Both veterans, Flacco especially, have extensive starting experience and could serve as placeholders. Though, we do not know yet who the bridge QBs will be setting up just yet.

Carrying the cheapest contract of the bunch, Sanders will undoubtedly bring by far the most attention. The Browns were once connected to potentially drafting the two-year Colorado starter second overall. A historic draft fall then commenced, allowing the team to trade up (via the Seahawks) for the polarizing prospect in the fifth round. Cleveland certainly did not plan to draft Sanders, but the value proved too enticing. A player viewed as a top-35 (or top-five, in Mel Kiper Jr.’s case) overall prospect will begin training for a potential starting role.

QBs chosen in Round 5 or later obviously have a low percentage shot of hitting, and the NFL effectively showed how it viewed Sanders this weekend. Sanders’ draft slide dwarfed Malik Willis‘ from 2022, as it appeared teams deemed Deion Sanders‘ son/pupil not worth the potential distractions he may bring. Shedeur’s attitude during pre-draft visits came up as one of the reasons he fell, and he is not going to a team that has done well at the quarterback position, for the most part, since rebooting in 1999. That said, Sanders could also make the highly unusual trek from fifth-round rookie to starter. Not too much is blocking him, should outside evaluators’ view be accurate (compared to a perception within the league).

The Browns saw Flacco deliver one of the most memorable QB stretches since they reemerged at the turn of the century, having seen the then-38-year-old join the practice squad and serve as a stunningly effective emergency replacement for Watson. Although Flacco earned Comeback Player of the Year acclaim for his five-game run that lifted an injury-plagued Browns offense to the playoffs, he is now 40 and coming off an unremarkable Colts cameo.

Indianapolis had benched Anthony Richardson in hopes Flacco could stabilize the offense, as a potential playoff berth was deemed a priority over Richardson development. After already subbing for an injured Richardson early last year, Flacco could not hold the job as an non-injury fill-in.

Shane Steichen benched Flacco after a three-INT game in Minnesota, and although he did return to replace Richardson late in the season (featuring a 330-yard loss to the Giants — in a game that cost the NFC East team Cam Ward), the Browns stand to have a diminished version of the former Super Bowl MVP compared to their 2023 edition. Still, Flacco has a path to the Week 1 gig as well.

Pickett could also lay claim to the role, but the Browns picking two quarterbacks by Round 5 also could lead him out of town. The former Steelers No. 20 overall pick has now been traded in back-to-back offseasons, with the second sending historically ineffective Browns backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson to Philly. Pickett did not impress in his second Steelers season, wrapping a 24-start tenure with 13 TD passes. Pittsburgh traded Pickett after he did not respond well to the Russell Wilson signing, as the Pitt alum sought a new team. Pickett’s struggles against the Commanders led to a late-season Eagles loss, and he left his lone Jalen Hurts relief start with a rib injury.

One season remains on Pickett’s rookie deal, which calls for a $2.62MM base salary. The Browns would take on that amount in dead money if they were to waive Pickett. That did not appear much of a possibility before the draft, as 2022’s top QB choice arrived before Flacco to at least compete for the starting job. But subsequent events complicate that route. Although, two-time Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski having a crack at Pickett — after embattled OC Matt Canada did not do much with him — at least represents an intriguing wild card here.

The first QB the Browns chose this year will step into the unusual spot of being overshadowed by a rookie in his own position group. Gabriel will come to Ohio having been Cleveland’s preference over Sanders, but he will now have to prove it in a way he may not have before the latter investment. Ranked 148th on Daniel Jeremiah‘s NFL.com big board (128 spots behind Sanders), Gabriel started throughout his college career — at Central Florida, Oklahoma and Oregon.

The Ducks’ Bo Nix successor played in a tougher conference, after Oregon’s Big Ten move, and won the league’s Offensive Player of the Year award. That did not result in draft gurus viewing the 5-foot-11 QB as anything but a Day 3 prospect, but the Browns disagreed and will give him a chance to start.

While one of these QBs could be sent to the practice squad, it would be unlikely if Sanders or Gabriel cleared waivers. Pickett would also need to clear waivers to be stashed. Though, it is now easier to imagine Pickett reaching free agency than one of Cleveland’s two recent QB draftees. This complicated situation will be the runaway lead Browns story moving forward, as the Myles Garrett matter is settled. The team’s QB future was supposed to loom large in the Browns regrouping with Garrett, but if this plan does not work out, Berry also secured an extra 2026 first-round pick by trading out of the Travis Hunter draft slot.

Who will win the offseason competition? And, more importantly, who do you think will end the season as the team’s primary starter? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts on this swiftly evolving setup in the comments section.

Browns Could See Significant Cap Relief Due To Insurance Policy On Deshaun Watson’s Contract; Latest On QB’s NFL Future

April 13th, 2025 at 10:57pm CST by Rory Parks

The Browns have added Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett to their quarterback room this offseason, and the club may still select a rookie passer in this month’s draft. Deshaun Watson has performed poorly during his Cleveland tenure, and with his 2025 availability in doubt, it is eminently possible that he will not play another down for the club.

Recent comments made by Browns co-owner Jimmy Haslam – the first time anyone within the organization publicly admitted the historic and controversial Watson acquisition is a failure – further reinforce that possibility, as ESPN.com’s Daniel Oyefusi writes. Of course, because of Watson’s contract – which was recently restructured for immediate salary cap relief – even a 2026 release with a post-June 1 designation would create a dead money charge of nearly $81MM without any cap savings.

As such, Oyefusi says Watson could stay on the Browns’ roster for the remainder of his thru-2026 deal, though any decisions in that regard will not be made for at least another year. Haslam said the team needs to determine Watson’s health status before making a call, and in the meantime, the 29-year-old passer is rehabbing his Achilles tear.

While the current financial picture related to Watson’s contract looks bleak, there is a real possibility that the situation will improve. We had previously touched on the insurance the club had taken out on Watson’s contract, and as Oyefusi reiterates, the insurance policy allowed Cleveland to obtain cap relief for 2024 after Watson missed 11 games due to injury in 2023. Likewise, the team has realized a small credit for the time Watson missed in 2024.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk adds further context. According to Florio, Watson’s deal contains an addendum that allows the team to recover over $58MM for an injury occurring between the start of the 2024 offseason program and the start of the 2025 offseason program (Watson sustained his season-ending Achilles tear in October 2024 and suffered a second tear in January 2025, and both occurrences fall within the addendum’s timeline). Most of the potential recovery (over $44MM) stems from Watson’s fully-guaranteed salary of $46MM for 2025.

In other words, if Watson is unable to play in 2025, and if the Browns’ prospective claim against the insurance policy is successful, Cleveland could get back over $44MM in cash with a corresponding credit to its cap sheet. Given the stakes involved, though, the insurance carrier may well attempt to find an exclusion or exception that would justify denial of the claim.

Assuming Watson does not engineer a dramatic turnaround to become a quality starting quarterback for the Browns, he will become a free agent at some point in the relatively near future. When that happens, he may not find another NFL opportunity.

Per Oysefusi, executives and agents from around the league have said it is possible that no team will bring Watson on board, even if he is completely healthy.

“If released, I don’t see anyone picking him up,” one NFC executive said. “And then, down the road, the question will be, will he take low-QB money? Would he even be motivated to play at that point?”

A prominent agent offered a different take, saying, “[t]he league is forgiving with quarterbacks that have exhibited high-level talent. There is a shortage of good QB play. That’s why I think a team could take a chance on him if he proves healthy. Some owners could have a problem with that because of the past, but not all.”

The agent makes a fair point, but it has been a few years since Watson has exhibited high-level talent. So while the Browns’ search for their next long-term quarterback and a way out of their now-infamous contractual misstep are the more pressing storylines, it is fair to wonder if Watson has already taken his last snap.

Jimmy Haslam Admits Mistake On QB Deshaun Watson

April 1st, 2025 at 8:29pm CST by Ely Allen

Recent developments in Cleveland’s pursuit of veteran free agent quarterbacks and research into the 2025 rookie draft class’s group of passers seem to indicate that the Browns are perhaps ready to move on from their Deshaun Watson experience. The 29-year-old still has two years remaining on his deal, but it finally appears that the Browns are ready to recognize their mistakes and move forward. According to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN, Browns co-owner Jimmy Haslam admitted as much at Monday’s annual league meeting.

“We took a big swing-and-miss with Deshaun,” Haslam told the media. “We thought we had the quarterback; we didn’t. And we gave up a lot of draft picks to get him, so we’ve got to dig ourselves out of that hole.”

Cleveland acquired Watson from the Texans in a trade package that included three first-round picks before signing the young passer to a five-year, $230MM extension, the league’s largest guaranteed contract in NFL history. Despite record-breaking contract after record-breaking contract being signed each year, no deal has come anywhere close to matching Watson’s $230MM in total guaranteed money at signing. Josh Allen‘s recent six-year, $330MM deal came the closest with only $147MM in total guaranteed money at signing.

In the three years since Watson signed that contract, though, he’s done little to earn that money he’s been guaranteed. He started just six games in each of the 2022 and 2023 seasons and seven games this past year. The first shortened season was a result of an 11-game suspension that Watson served as a result of “egregious” and “predatory behavior” that led to several sexual assault allegations. In 2023, Watson missed three games with injury in the first 10 weeks of the season before suffering a broken bone in his throwing shoulder that would end his year.

Last year, we saw Watson suffer a torn Achilles tendon after seven weeks of play. In early-January, Watson suffered a setback in his rehab from the tendon tear that was reported to potentially require a second surgery. Days later, it was disclosed that he had suffered a second Achilles tendon rupture, potentially endangering his availability in 2025.

If the Browns do go after a rookie passer, it could certainly be an indication that Watson’s time in Cleveland has come to an end. The team has worked out multiple restructures with Watson in recent years in attempts to help spread out his cap impact through the 2029 season, but at the moment, he represents cap hits of $36.94MM in 2025 and $81.68MM in 2026. With 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions at the low, low cost of $230MM, it does appear that the Watson-trade has turned out to be a bit of a swing and a miss.

Browns Restructure Deshaun Watson’s Deal

March 6th, 2025 at 8:53am CST by Adam La Rose

As expected, the Browns have again adjusted Deshaun Watson‘s pact to create immediate cap room. ESPN’s Field Yates notes another restructure has taken place, freeing up nearly $36MM in cap space.

Given the fully guaranteed nature of Watson’s pact, a trade or release was never feasible for the Browns even in the wake of Watson’s struggles when healthy during his Cleveland tenure. The blockbuster trade acquisition saw his 2024 campaign end with an Achilles tear, and he has subsequently suffered a second tear which will sideline him for most (potentially all) of next year.

In December, team and player agreed to a reworked deal which added a pair of void years to the pact. None of Watson’s compensation was affected by the move, whereas today’s restructure will convert salary into a signing bonus to lower his 2025 cap charge. Watson was previously on track to count for $73MM against the cap this season, meaning such a maneuver was expected prior to the start of the new league year. Cleveland was among the teams over the cap entering Thursday, but once this move is processed the Browns will be in compliance.

Nevertheless, a cost-effective QB solution will be sought out this offseason with Watson still under contract for the next two years. Cleveland will only be able to afford a modest investment in free agency, and as a result Kirk Cousins has been mentioned as a logical target (provided he is released by the Falcons). The draft also looms as an avenue to finding a long-term Watson replacement, and the Browns could use the No. 2 pick to fill that need. Cam Ward is among the prospects who will conduct a top-30 visit, and he will be in Cleveland today.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson is attached to his rookie contract, but Jameis Winston is a pending free agent. In the event the latter were to depart, and if pending restricted free agent Bailey Zappe were to be non-tendered, the Browns could be in the market for multiple additions under center. The team now has financial clarity as it pertains to Watson as preparations at the position continue.

Browns’ Deshaun Watson Suffers Second Achilles Tear

January 10th, 2025 at 11:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

Deshaun Watson‘s recent setback in his Achilles rehab has proven to be a situation which will seriously threaten his availability for 2025. The Browns quarterback tore his Achilles a second time, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. The team has since confirmed the news.

Such a scenario was raised as a possibility earlier this week, with a second surgery of course being required in that event. As Rapoport notes, Watson underwent surgery yesterday to repair the most recent tear. His recovery timeline will now be pushed back as a result of the second operation; returning to full health in time for the start of the 2025 campaign was already a stretch, but now Watson is in danger of missing next season altogether.

“Earlier this week, when Watson reported to CrossCountry Mortgage Campus for his exit physical as part of the Browns’ season-ending process, he complained of discomfort after rolling his ankle in Miami,” a team statement reads in part. “MRI results demonstrated a re-rupture to his Achilles tendon. Dr. Bob Anderson, a foot and ankle specialist in Charlotte, NC, performed both surgeries.”

When on the field, Watson’s level of play has fallen well short of expectations. The former Texans Pro Bowler is still in Cleveland’s plans with two more years and $92MM guaranteed remaining on his pact (one which was once again restructured last month). The team has made it clear, though, that adding competition at the QB spot will be a priority for the offseason. Especially with Watson now set to miss considerable time next year, Cleveland will likely proceed with increased urgency in finding a new passer.

The Browns are currently scheduled to select second overall in April’s draft, and bringing in a rookie QB has already been floated as a distinct possibility. Two signal-callers – Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders – are considered the top options in this year’s class, one which is not viewed as favorably as past drafts. With veteran Jameis Winston a pending free agent, the Browns may be in the market for more than one quarterback addition over the coming months. In any case, Watson’s bid to return to his Houston form will be significantly delayed.

Browns’ Deshaun Watson Suffers Setback In Rehab, Could Require Second Surgery

January 6th, 2025 at 10:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

Deshaun Watson will remain on the books for the Browns in 2025, but it remains to be seen when he will be healthy enough to play. The much-maligned quarterback’s recovery from an Achilles tear has taken an unwanted turn.

Browns general manager Andrew Berry said on Monday (via Tom Pelissero of NFL Network) that Watson encountered a setback in his rehab process. As a result, a second Achilles surgery may be required. Especially if that proves to be the case, Watson’s timeline to return to action will be significantly pushed back.

The 29-year-old tore his Achilles in October, bringing an end to his third season with Cleveland. The ailment represents the second in a row which prevented him from playing a full campaign (something of note considering the 11-game suspension which began his Browns tenure, of course). Just like years past, 2024 did not go according to plan in terms of on-field production, although Cleveland did not consider benching him prior to the injury. The team used Jameis Winston, Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe at quarterback to close out the year, and changes under center can be expected.

Berry noted this latest Watson development is unlikely to affect the Browns’ plans at the QB spot this offseason (h/t Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal). Competition for the starting gig has already been expected – quite possibly by adding a rookie in the first round of the draft – and further uncertainty regarding Watson’s 2025 availability could point the team in that direction. Cleveland is on track to select second overall in April.

Given the fully guaranteed nature of Watson’s pact, cutting or trading him is not feasible. To no surprise, another restructure was worked out recently, further delaying the point at which the Browns will meet major cap issues by releasing the three-time Pro Bowler. Watson’s cap hits for 2025 and ’26 remain $72.94MM at this point, with several void years in place. As noted by Spotrac, the restructure likely sets up a post-June 1 release in 2027.

In the meantime, improved play under center will be a key goal for the franchise. Berry, along with head coach Kevin Stefanski, will remain in place for 2025. One day after their season ended, though, the Browns did move on from offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey as well as offensive line coach Andy Dickerson. Replacing both represents a notable task, and with Winston and Zappe on track for (in the latter’s case, restricted) free agency, an overhaul under center could be in store. Watson was previously set for a training camp return, per cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot, but now that will no longer be the case.

Browns, QB Deshaun Watson Agree On Reworked Contract

December 27th, 2024 at 10:42pm CST by Ely Allen

The Browns and veteran quarterback Deshaun Watson have agreed to new terms on his fully guaranteed $230MM contract, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The new terms do not affect the amount of money Watson will receive over the final two years of the deal but will impact Cleveland’s cap commitment over the next several seasons.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Watson’s income will not be affected. In signing the reworked deal, Watson is not taking a pay cut from the remaining funds due to him. Over the next two seasons, Watson is set to earn $46MM per year. What the new contract does do is move some of the cap hit from the deal into new voidable years. The deal before today already had two void years tacked on after the contract ends in 2027, and with today’s updates, the deal will now have a total of four void years.

Seemingly, what this move indicates, is that Cleveland has not yet given up on Watson as their franchise quarterback. Despite how disastrous the contract has worked out towards this purpose to date, the Browns seem to be saying that Watson should return next year as the team’s starting quarterback. His contract has him set for free agency following the 2026 season, meaning he could be the Browns’ passer for both years.

Four years ago, this wouldn’t have sounded like a bad deal. After an impressive rookie season, in which Watson threw for 19 touchdowns in only six starts, was cut short due to injury, the young quarterback out of Clemson delivered three straight Pro Bowl seasons for the Texans, leading the league in passing yards in his final year with the team.

His fifth-year option was exercised, but Watson became disgruntled with the front office and coaching staff, leading to a trade request. During the contract and trade negotiations, a number of sexual harassment allegations emerged, draping Watson in controversy. Between the contract issues and allegations, Watson would sit out the entire 2021 season. Despite missing a year and being plagued with potential for suspension, the Browns sent a massive draft package in exchange for Watson and signed him to the largest, most-guaranteed contract in NFL history.

The allegations resulted in an 11-game suspension to begin his Browns’ tenure. In the two seasons since, Watson has missed a total of 21 games with injury. His short healthy spurt in 2023 saw him go 5-1 in six starts, while a seven-game stretch this season saw him go 1-6. So far, Cleveland’s massive investment has resulted in 19 starts and a 9-10 record. Luckily, as most teams are wont to do, the Browns insured Watson’s contract so that they receive some cap relief for his missed time.

Along with spreading out some of the cap impact, the Browns’ new deal with Watson should make the impact of cutting him a bit easier, should they choose to do so. On his previous deal, Watson would’ve represented $119MM in dead money if cut as a post-June 1 release before the 2025 season. Similarly, the number would reduce only to $73MM before 2026. Theoretically, those numbers should reduce under the new terms.

Ensuring that Watson comes back next year doesn’t mean the team won’t address the position in the offseason, though. The team is reportedly doing their research on secondary options to compete with Watson and fill in in case of further injury issues. There’s certainly a chance that the secondary quarterback could be Jameis Winston or Dorian Thompson-Robinson, though Winston is set to hit free agency, but a quarterback in the draft is certainly an option, as well. For now, though, the adjusted contract sets the table for Watson to return as the 2025 starter.

Browns Likely To Complete Another Deshaun Watson Restructure

December 15th, 2024 at 10:17pm CST by Sam Robinson

With the Browns in a historically unique spot regarding Deshaun Watson, they are not in a good position to release a player who has flopped after a blockbuster trade. Even though both Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry stopped short of indicating Watson would be the Browns’ starting quarterback in 2025, he is expected to stay in Cleveland beyond this season.

Not only will Watson be staying despite his mostly woeful play, the high-priced passer will be given another chance to vie for the Browns’ starting job. The team still believes the eighth-year veteran can play at a high level, per the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot, who adds that another restructure is likely on tap.

Two previous restructures have ballooned Watson’s 2025 cap hit to $72.9MM, which would shatter the NFL record. Kyler Murray‘s $49.2MM 2024 number represents the NFL high for a single player, and the Browns are not keen on having Watson smash that record by staying on that lofty number next year. Of course, if/once the Browns complete another restructure with Watson, it will complicate their eventual exit route from what currently resides as the worst contract in NFL history.

The most recent woman to accuse Watson of sexual assault settled her civil suit with the embattled QB, and her attorney confirmed no talks with the NFL commenced. The league closed its investigation without a second suspension coming to pass. This keeps the Browns on the hook for Watson’s guaranteed salaries, as part of a fully guaranteed deal (five years, $230MM), in 2025 and ’26. Had the Browns not restructured Watson’s contract in 2023 and 2024, the QB’s cap number would have settled in south of Murray’s record-setter in 2025, at least putting a release in play. The adjustments that created cap space over the past two years are currently hindering the Browns here.

Cleveland cannot realistically cut Watson in 2025. The August restructure Berry completed would create $172MM in dead money in that event. While that could be spread out over two years, that sum would make it untenable — even in a world in which the Broncos cut Russell Wilson to spur a dead cap avalanche — for the Browns to operate. Instead, the sides will be stuck with each other for at least one more season.

Prior to tearing an Achilles tendon, Watson performed poorly enough Stefanski regularly received questions about why he remained the Browns’ starter and whether higher-ranking members in the organization were mandating that remain the case. Stefanski denied anyone beyond him was making that call, and other Browns coaches agreed he was the team’s best option. Jameis Winston, his high-variance style notwithstanding, has proven to be a more effective QB this season. The Browns were playing without multiple O-line starters for most of Watson’s run this season, though the former Texans Pro Bowler has been a shell of his Houston version during most of his Cleveland stay.

The Browns are also planning to add another starter-caliber QB for 2025, Cabot notes, indicating the injured incumbent is still in a walking boot but on schedule in his recovery from a second season-ending surgery in two years (after his 2023 shoulder operation). This follows a report that indicated a competition is at least coming, though Watson’s contract will limit the Browns’ options in finding a potential replacement.

That said, Cleveland restructuring Watson’s deal would allow for help in that area. As of now, it would cost the Browns $99MM-plus to cut Watson in 2026; that number would be defrayed over two offseasons. A third restructure, though, would bump a 2026 dead money total well north of $100MM. As it stands, the Browns appear prepared to deal with that when the time comes.

While it would stand to reason the Browns would strongly look into dismissing Berry after he proposed this contract, Jimmy Haslam backed his HC-GM combo earlier this week. They will be tasked with finding what could be a job-saving solution at quarterback soon.

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