The $230 million fully guaranteed contract awarded to Deshaun Watson by the Cleveland Browns continues to represent a financial challenge for the franchise. Despite high expectations following his arrival in 2022, Watson has been far from the quarterback the team expected, facing suspensions, injuries and inconsistent performance.
Availability and performance issues
Since signing the deal, Watson served an 11-game suspension in 2022 and has dealt with injuries in the 2023 and 2024 seasons. His latest injury, a ruptured Achilles tendon, could keep him out of action until 2025, further compounding the situation for Cleveland.
Uncertain future for the Browns
To address salary cap limitations, the Browns recently restructured Watson’s contract, converting his $46 million base salary into a bonus, allowing them to free up $35.79 million in cap space for the current season. However, this decision will have long-term financial consequences, as the team will face an $81.6 million cap hit in 2026 and $53.7 million in 2027, even if Watson is no longer with the team by then.
The restructuring reflects the difficult position the franchise finds itself in, having invested significantly in a player whose performance and availability have been questionable. With such a high salary burden in the future, the Browns could face serious difficulties in strengthening their roster and remaining competitive in the coming years.
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