The Cleveland Browns restructured Deshaun Watson’s contract, aiming to ease future salary-cap burden and signaling that the quarterback will be with the team in 2025, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Watson has two seasons left on the five-year, $230-million contract he signed after joining the Browns in a trade from the Houston Texans in 2022. Cleveland still owes him $92 million fully guaranteed over the 2025 and ’26 seasons.
The adjusted contract will allow the Browns to spread the dead cap hit over two years instead of taking it all in 2027 if Watson stays with the team through 2026, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Technically, Cleveland is adding a new year to Watson’s deal with no new money, notes Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports. His contract also already included two void years (2027 and ’28).