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As Deshaun Watson enters the final year of his $230 million deal, the Cleveland Browns are doing some homework.
Last year, co-owner Jimmy Haslam admitted to almost regretting signing Watson and then giving him his fully guaranteed deal, calling it a “huge swing and a miss.”
During that offseason, the Browns actually restructured his contract twice in three months — and they did it again this week.
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Deshaun Watson of the Cleveland Browns walks off the field after a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Chris Unger/Getty Images)
According to Cleveland.com , where Watson originally had a cap hit of over $80 million, the Browns are converting up to $44.745 million of his $46 million base salary into a restructuring bonus.
The move will free up $36 million in cap space when the official league year begins next week. The move brings Watson’s base salary to the veteran minimum of $1.255 million.
The Browns are also expected to make a similar move with cornerback Denzel Ward, whose base salary is just $17 million.
Legal manipulation begins on Monday, and free agents can sign deals at 4 p.m. ET Wednesday.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, center, poses for a portrait with general manager Andrew Berry, left, and coach Kevin Stefanski during Watson’s introductory news conference March 26, 2022, at the Browns practice facility in Berea. (Jeff Lange/USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Watson was traded to the Browns ahead of the 2021 season for three first-round picks, despite a looming suspension for alleged sexual harassment, and he immediately signed one of the most lucrative deals in NFL history. But the suspension and injuries, including two torn Achilles, have kept Watson off the field for just 19 games in a Browns uniform. He missed all of last season recovering from an Achilles injury.
And when he has been on the field, he has not performed up to any kind of expectation. In those 19 games, he has thrown for 3,365 yards, 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions with a 61.2 completion percentage.
Cleveland drafted two quarterbacks last year in Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, who had an unprecedented drop as a potential top-three pick and went in the fifth round. Joe Flacco started Week 1, but after he was traded, Gabriel took over. But after Gabriel suffered a concussion, Sanders was the starter for the rest of the season.
Cleveland Browns’ Deshaun Watson walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Cleveland, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Browns quarterbacks ranked 31st in completion percentage (57.89%) and passing yards per carry. battle (165.1).
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