Image source: Instagram/@deshaunwatson
In a strategic financial move, the Cleveland Browns have restructured quarterback Deshaun Watson’s contract, freeing up an impressive $35.832 million in salary cap space.
This decision, reported by several media sources on Thursday, involved converting $44.79 million of Watson’s $46 million base salary for this season into a signing bonus.
Thanks to this adjustment, the Browns now boast over $62 million in available cap space. This financial maneuver follows a similar restructuring of Deshaun Watson’s record-breaking $230 million fully guaranteed deal before the 2023 free agency, which had already cleared around $36 million in cap space.
On the same day, reports emerged suggesting that the Browns might release quarterback Tyler Huntley. If this happens, the Browns will head into their season opener against the Dallas Cowboys on September 8 with a quarterback lineup consisting of Deshaun Watson, Jameis Winston, and Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
Deshaun Watson’s contract is set to bring significant cap hits of $72.9 million in both the 2025 and 2026 seasons, with dead cap amounts of $172 million and $99 million, respectively. The 28-year-old quarterback has had a challenging time since joining the Browns from the Houston Texans.
In two seasons, he has played only 12 games due to an 11-game suspension in 2022 for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. This suspension was linked to allegations of sexual harassment and assault from multiple female massage therapists.
In 2023, Deshaun Watson’s season was further marred by injuries, limiting him to just six games. During this period, he managed to throw for 1,115 yards, seven touchdowns, and four interceptions, completing 61.4 percent of his passes.
Despite these setbacks, Deshaun Watson remains a three-time Pro Bowler with impressive career statistics: 16,756 yards, 118 touchdowns, and 45 interceptions in 66 games (65 starts), along with a 36-29 record as a starter.
Tyler Huntley, who signed a one-year, $1.29 million contract with the Browns in March, may be on the way out. The 26-year-old had previously served as a backup to Lamar Jackson with the Baltimore Ravens.
He earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2022 after a solid performance, completing 67.0 percent of his passes for 658 yards and two touchdowns in six games (four starts). Huntley has a total of 1,957 yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions across 20 games (nine starts) with the Ravens. He originally joined the Ravens in 2020 as an undrafted free agent from Utah.
