The Cleveland Browns have reached an agreement to restructure the contract of Deshaun Watson yet again.
The Browns stunned the NFL in 2022 when the quarterback arrived in Cleveland on a fully guaranteed five-year, $230million deal from the Houston Texans.
However, Watson has failed to make an impact on the franchise, casting doubts over his future and his blockbuster contract.
The signal caller has been limited to just 19 games in three seasons because of an NFL suspension and injuries with the Browns.
But the Browns have negotiated a way to keep Watson in Cleveland and free up almost $36million in 2025 cap space, according to ESPN’s Field Yates.
The agreement comes just three months after the Browns made another move to restructure Watson’s contract. Back in December, the franchise reached an agreement with the quarterback that allowed them to spread out the salary-cap hit after the 2026 season.
The Cleveland Browns have reached an agreement to restructure Deshaun Watson’s contract
The quarterback arrived in Cleveland on a fully guaranteed five-year, $230million deal in 2022
The move added a voidable year for 2028, giving the Browns cap flexibility following 2026, the final year on Watson’s deal.
The Browns have been a major disappointment after making it to the playoffs a year ago behind Joe Flacco, who was signed as a free agent after Watson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury.
Watson had surgery in October and is expected to make a full recovery. While the team hasn’t disclosed its plans at quarterback, it’s assumed Watson will be in the mix to be the starter next season.
However, that isn’t expected to prevent the Browns from drafting fresh quarterback talent in the NFL Draft in April.
The Browns hold the No 2 overall pick and are expected to stay put and select either Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders at the position, ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported earlier this month.
The team hasn’t had a first-round pick the past three years after trading three to the Houston Texans to acquire Watson, who was once considered one of the league’s elite QBs.
Watson’s disappointing tenure – he hasn’t thrown for 300 yards in any game – has been a sore spot with Cleveland fans, who had hoped the team had finally resolved its interminable QB issues when they signed the three-time Pro Bowler three years ago.
The signal caller suffered a season-ending shoulder injury back in October
But it hasn’t worked out, and the major investment in Watson and the salary-cap ramifications of his contract – the largest fully guaranteed deal in league history – have made it difficult for the Browns to upgrade their roster.
Watson has shown flashes of being a competent starting quarterback, but there have been just as many moments in which he’s looked hesitant in the pocket or unable to connect with receivers down field.
Watson was suspended for the first 11 games of his first season in Cleveland after an independent arbiter ruled he violated the conduct policy after he was accused by more than two dozen women of sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions.
Since having surgery, Watson has been rehabbing his Achilles injury. He has not spoken to reporters for months.
Leave a Reply