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The Cleveland Browns and quarterback Deshaun Watson have agreed on a contract restructure, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, who provided more information.
Ian Rapoport @RapSheet
Sources: The #Browns and QB Deshaun Watson have agreed to terms on a contract restructure, easing the salary cap burden for years to come.
The reworked deal also signals that Watson is expected to be on the #Browns next season. This is about the cap after his deal is up. pic.twitter.com/9Mog27khcK
Watson is on a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract that expires after the 2026 season. Rapoport added that the new deal “doesn’t affect Watson’s 2025 contract.” He is still due $92 million fully guaranteed over 2025 and 2026.
Rapoport added that “the new parameters of the deal would make his contract easier to manage following the 2026 season…” He also said Cleveland plans to bring in another quarterback for competition, whether it’s a rookie, a younger player or a veteran (perhaps even current Browns signal-caller Jameis Winston).
Watson only played seven games for the Browns this season after suffering a torn Achilles against the Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 20.
Watson had struggled over the first seven weeks of the season. His 79.0 quarterback rating ranks 32nd out of 34 signal-callers, and his 23.0 QBR ranks dead last, per Pro Football Reference. His 3.84 net yards gained per attempt was last as well and sits more than a full yard behind the next-closest QB (the Chicago Bears’ Caleb Williams, at 4.89).
Overall, the Browns’ signing of Watson has not worked out. In 19 games over three seasons, Cleveland has gone 9-10 in his starts. Watson has completed only 61.2 percent of his passes for 3,365 yards, 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He’s also thrown for only 6.0 yards per attempt.
Given Watson’s 2024 performance and subsequent season-ending injury, it’s understandable that the Browns are looking for a new quarterback. And given his monstrous contract, Cleveland certainly needs some more cap flexibility, especially given the team’s nightmarish 3-12 season.
For now, the Browns will play out the string of a lost season before turning attention toward the offseason, presumably with finding out the team’s answer at QB1 in 2025 high on the list.
