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.
Prior to this restructure, which still needs more detail shared, Watson had $46M Guaranteed Salary for 2025 and 2026. This would be the only part of the contract that would move with a trade.
The Browns have been adamant that they will not trade Myles Garret. What if a team that wanted Garret, had available cap space and had a QB under a rookie deal was willing to take Watson as part of the deal?
There would still be a significant dead cap charge to the Browns for the prorated signing bonus. Would getting out from under up to $92M of bad guarantees entice them to trade Garret? Would it still cost multiple 1st round picks? Would the Browns pick up any of the remaining $92M?
In this pie-in-the-sky hypothetical, maybe the receiving team converts much of that $92M to Signing Bonus reducing the Cap Hit per year and make it so that they could cut ties in a reasonable time.
Two teams stand out as having cap space and QBs under rookie deals, Chicago and Washington.
You typically see this happen in basketball or baseball attaching a bad contract to a prospect or pick or young player or something along those lines. Football doesn’t do this nearly as much
I don’t see any team taking Watsons contract and tying up their cap space for a back up QB, even if you could land Myles Garrett. Cap space is pretty valuable in football. MLB and NBA don’t have hard caps. MLB has tiers and tax penalties while NBA lets you go over cap to resign your own players.
Ironically this happened when Brock Osweiler was sent to the Browns by the Broncos.
Watson has accumulated more negatives in the last 4 years than his past successes can bear.
Texans to Browns
Browns got Osweiler a 6th and 2nd.
Texans got a 4th
Not saying it never happens. But it’s rare NFL teams trade players and/or picks to make guys go away. They’d rather just cut them.
It’s weird nobody does bad contract for bad contract though. For instance why Bolts didn’t offer Joey Bosa for Jonathan Allen think Bosa came in at 36 mill cap hit and Allen at 22. So maybe a pick would be involved heading back to the Commanders. But both are/were cut candidates.
Cleveland’s so underwater on the cap that it had no choice but to rework the Watson contract.
The only people who don’t understand that are Dumb Jocks playing Sportsball Mash-Up. NFL is not NBA nor even baseball.
Karma jerking the Browns around against their will with no sense of irony.
See what you did there
Seduce Kirk cousins or draft two QBs in the draft. I’m not even kidding lol
@sentinelatl. Might make sense for the browns to wait for falcons to release cousins. Supposely he’s staying as the backup but I’m calling bs. Cousins on a two year deal might work he can start this year and maybe next if they cut Watson. If cousins rebounds the browns could trade him. They need to get Carter. Drafting a qb isn’t going to move the needle