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.
Hahahahahahahahaha
Yep. Only reaction here!
Ah yes, kicking the can down the road further. That can only lead to good outcomes.
Browns must still believe in Santa Clause too.
No way he can still play at a high level. Unless they mean a different type of “high”
So nice they use the dead money as excuse to keep playing this loser.
Forget the re-structure. Get him to agree to a retirement package, with money owed waived, in exchange for a minority owner share.
No more restructuring. Bring him back, then sit his worthless butt on the bench for the entirety of the contract. Heck, let him go on another vacation.
Oh, and please Berry NOW!
*FIRE
Still surprising to me nobody realized Watson couldn’t read defenses all those years in Houston and bill o Brien had to run a simplified Clemson playbook cause he couldn’t run an nfl offense either. Like how did no opposing team figure that out in 4 years in Houston.
They did. He was under 50% winning percentage with one playoff win when they traded for him. And that was with guys like JJ Watt and D-Hop in their primes. He has never been an above average NFL QB, so when you couple that with the fact that he is the creepiest dude in professional sports, sorry Trevor Bauer, it made no sense that they even wanted him let alone would commit so many guaranteed dollars to him.
He was 28-25 in Houston
4 years in Houston he had
68% comp rate
14500 yards yards passing
104 tds passing
1700 yards yards rushing
17 tds rushing
2018 he was 13th in qbr
2019 7th in qbr
2020 12th in qbr
Watson was right up there with the Mahomes Allen Jackson in terms of franchise level qb
The surprising part is he couldn’t read defenses all those years apparently and the offense they ran was a version of his college offense cause he couldn’t run a pro style offense which is what stefanski runs in Cleveland.
Looks like the Browns need to hire Mickey Loomis to navigate this salary cap disaster.