The Browns don’t have any good options when it comes to the final two years of quarterback Deshaun Watson’s fully guaranteed contract. And so they make a batch of salary cap chicken salad.
PFT has confirmed multiple reports that the Browns and Watson have agreed to terms for a restructuring.
The topical terms, however, are not what others have described. Watson’s contract already gave the Browns the right to convert part of his $46 million base salary into a guaranteed payment. At some point, the Browns will likely do just that, dropping their 2025 cap hit by $72.935 million.
The new terms of the latest deal include a $200 million salary for 2029 that becomes fully guaranteed if he is on the roster on the third day of the 2027 league year. The Browns are expected to use the post-June 1 designation to release Watson on the first day of the 2027 league year, thus spreading his final cap charges into 2027 and 2028.
The move costs Watson nothing and helps the Browns create cap space that can be used while he is still on the team. This also qualifies him for injury protection under the CBA for 2027 and 2028.
The revised deal essentially guarantees Watson will stay with the Browns through 2026. But that still happened. They owe him $46 million for each of the next two seasons. The consequences of its removal would be enormous.
The real question is whether he will be a starter in 2025. Even if they have to pay him, they are not obligated to play him.
And if the Browns play him, fans might not want to pay for tickets to watch the games.