Deshaun Watson contract: Breaking down Browns QB's $92,000,000 restructured deal

The Cleveland Browns restructured quarterback Deshaun Watson's contract by spreading $92 million over two seasons instead of all of it hitting the cap in 2027. It does not affect the player's total earnings. He signed a $230 million fully guaranteed contract for five years in 2022, which means he is slated to get $46 million over the next two seasons. That provision still remains intact.

However, the changes benefit the Browns because they can now spread the cap hit over four seasons after Deshaun Watson's contract expires. Before the restructuring, his deal had two void years, 2027 and 2028. Now, it is spread until 2030.

It signals that Cleveland is looking to bring the quarterback next season despite having issues on and off the field. This in itself is not surprising since the contract is guaranteed. The restructured deal frees up more money in years beyond the current obligations. On the flip side, this means that the team will continue to be hamstrung by the salary cap for more years to come.

Revisiting Deshaun Watson's performance for the Browns so far

The Browns gave Deshaun Watson a unique contract with fully guaranteed money. That came about because the quarterback had legal troubles with serious sexual misconduct allegations. They decided to move for him because of his record with the Texans where he made three Pro Bowl rosters. In the process, they decided to part ways with Baker Mayfield, who is currently thriving with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Since 2022, Deshaun Watson has been a drag in Cleveland. He has not played a full season yet. He only featured in six games in his first year after the league decided to suspend him for the alleged sexual misconduct. In 2023, he again played just six games as a shoulder injury ended his season prematurely.

This was supposed to be his redemption year. Instead, that too ended after seven games as he suffered a torn Achilles. However, his performances prior to that did not scream franchise quarterback either as he led them to a league-worst 1-6 record.

He threw for five touchdowns and three interceptions during that time. He did not have a single game with 200 passing yards or a passer rating that reached three figures in 2024. Jameis Winston, who replaced him after his injury, won more games, had more touchdowns, and a higher passer rating but was himself supplanted by Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

Despite that, the Browns are choosing to bring back Deshaun Watson for 2025. Given his guaranteed contract, there is not much Cleveland could have done other than spread some of his money around so that it is not as much of a burden on the team if they decide to move on from him.