Browns Restructure Watson’s Contract, Freeing Up $36 Million in Cap Space

CLEVELAND — With NFL free agency approaching, the Cleveland Browns have taken significant steps to manage their salary cap by restructuring quarterback Deshaun Watson‘s contract. This move, reported by ESPN’s Field Yates, creates nearly $36 million in cap space for the 2025 season.

Watson’s contract, a five-year, fully guaranteed deal valued at $230 million, has been a focal point for the Browns since they acquired him from the Houston Texans in March 2022. Despite the sizable investment, Watson has appeared in only 19 games over the past three seasons, missing time due to various injuries and suspensions.

In an effort to alleviate their financial constraints, Browns General Manager Andrew Berry converted $44 million of Watson’s 2025 base salary into signing bonus money and added a void year to the end of the deal. This restructuring enables the team to distribute the cap hit more evenly over the remaining years, which now extends to 2029.

“The Browns have restructured the contract of QB Deshaun Watson, creating nearly $36 million in 2025 cap space,” Yates tweeted on Thursday morning. Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network confirmed the restructuring, emphasizing that the majority of Watson’s contract has already been paid by the team.

As a result of this restructuring, Watson is slated to receive a minimum salary for 2025, with a return to his full $46 million salary in 2026. This maneuver is part of Berry’s strategy, which he has implemented in previous offseasons to create short-term financial relief despite introducing long-term salary cap implications.

Watson’s recent career has been marred by injuries and off-field controversies. He suffered a torn Achilles in October 2024, requiring surgery in January, which may sideline him for a substantial portion of the upcoming season. The quarterback’s pattern of missed games has transformed the Browns’ outlook at the quarterback position.

With $13 million in cap space available after the restructuring and rollover from 2024, the Browns are positioned to make crucial decisions ahead of NFL free agency, which begins this Monday, March 10. The official start of the new league year is set for Wednesday, March 12, at 4 p.m.