The Cleveland Browns have restructured quarterback Deshaun Watson’s massive contract to create salary-cap space and give them future flexibility, a person familiar with the move told The Associated Press on Friday.
An NFL suspension and injuries have limited Watson to just 19 games in three seasons with the Browns, who signed him to a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract through 2022.
The restructuring allows the team to spread out the salary-cap hit beyond the 2026 season, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team does not disclose specifics of the contract.
Watson, 29, has two years remaining on a contract worth an average of $46 million per year. The move to restructure his deal won’t prevent the Browns from adding talent at the quarterback position in 2025, the person said.
Watson played in just seven games this season with a ruptured Achilles tendon. He is 9-10 as a starter with Cleveland.
The Browns (3-12) are a major disappointment this season after making the playoffs a year ago behind Joe Flacco, who was signed as a free agent after Watson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury.
Watson underwent surgery in October and is expected to make a full recovery. While the team has not revealed its plans at quarterback, it is believed that Watson will be in the mix to be the starter next season.
It’s also possible the Browns will draft a quarterback in the first round. The team hasn’t had a first-round pick in the past three years after making three trades with the Houston Texans to acquire Watson, once considered one of the league’s elite QBs.
Watson’s disappointing tenure has been a sore spot for Cleveland fans, who hoped the team had finally solved its tight end QB issues when they signed the three-time Pro Bowler three years ago.
But that hasn’t worked, and the huge investment in Watson and the salary-cap implications of his contract — the largest fully guaranteed deal in league history — have made it difficult for the Browns to upgrade their roster.
Watson has shown flashes of being a capable starting quarterback, but there have been moments in which he looked hesitant in the pocket or unable to connect with receivers downfield.
Watson was suspended for the first 11 games of his first season in Cleveland after an independent arbitrator ruled he violated the conduct policy after being accused of sexual misconduct by more than two dozen women during massage therapy sessions. was
Reporting by the Associated Press.
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