The Cleveland Browns have again restructured the contract of injured quarterback Deshaun Watson, creating around $36 million in salary-cap space for 2025, a team source confirmed.
This latest restructure was necessary — the Browns were about $23 million over the cap before it processed — but was also expected. In December, the Browns and Watson agreed to a restructure that set the stage for this move and potentially for a formal breakup in early 2026.
Cleveland traded three first-round picks for the right to give Watson a fully guaranteed $230 million contract in March 2022. But he ruptured his Achilles tendon in October, then suffered the same injury again in early January. He’s out at least for the start of the 2025 season. More than likely, he’s not going to play for the Browns again.
After this restructure and ahead of the potential 2026 cap relief through insurance the Browns had on the contract, the team will still have around $136 million in cap commitments to Watson after the 2025 season.
Watson has played in 19 games over three seasons in Cleveland and is signed through 2026. The December restructure added void years to the contract for cap reasons through 2030, though the Browns will be in position to decide in early 2026 how to handle the rest of the money.
The trade, obviously, has been a disaster for the Browns. They’re back in the quarterback market next week when free agency opens and hold the No. 2 pick in April’s draft after going 3-14 with four different starting quarterbacks last season. Myles Garrett, the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year, requested a trade because he doesn’t feel the Browns are close to winning.
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