Cleveland's New Plan for Deshaun Watson's Contract

The Cleveland Browns have found themselves in a tricky spot with quarterback Deshaun Watson's contract. To tackle the final two years of his fully-guaranteed deal, they've decided to restructure it. This isn't the first time they've done this, but the latest changes are significant. Under the new terms, Watson will have a $200 million salary for 2029, which becomes fully guaranteed if he remains on the roster by the third day of the 2027 league year. The Browns plan to use the post-June 1 designation to release him on the first day of the 2027 league year, spreading his final cap charges over 2027 and 2028. This move doesn't cost Watson anything but helps the Browns create some cap space while he's still playing for them. It also means he'll be protected against injuries under the collective bargaining agreement for 2027 and 2028. The question now is whether Watson will be the starting quarterback in 2025. While the Browns have to pay him, they don't have to play him. And if they do, some fans might think twice about buying tickets to watch games. Restructuring his contract doesn't change the fact that the Browns owe him $46 million for each of the next two seasons. Cutting him would have huge cap impacts, so he'll likely stay through 2026. The big question is whether he'll be the starting quarterback next season, or if the Browns will look for another option.