NFL Rumors: Deshaun Watson open to restructuring $230 million Browns contract in surprise move
Last season, the Cleveland Browns traded the Houston Texans their first-round draft picks for 2022, 2023, and 2024, as well as a third-round pick for 2023 and fourth-round picks in 2022 and 2024 in exchange for Deshaun Watson.
OFFICIAL: We have acquired 3-time Pro Bowl QB Deshaun Watson in a trade with the Texans
Upon being traded to Cleveland, Watson signed the largest guaranteed contract in NFL history. He inked a five-year $230 million deal with the team.
For the next four seasons, Watson will be a costly $54.9 million cap hit for the outfit. According to Browns local reporter Mary May Cabot, Watson is “open to help restructuring his contract” to help the team sign quality veterans this offseason.
#Browns QB Deshaun Watson is "open to restructuring his contract" to help the team sign quality veterans, per @MaryKayCabot
Watson is currently set to make a very high $54,993,000 every year for the next four seasons. https://t.co/uY9ZHtMwPw
The Browns are currently $11 million over the cap. They’ll have to restructure deals, re-work contracts, and maybe release/trade players to get under the limit. Watson is one of those players expected to rework his deal to have a lower cap hit this season.
Cleveland have 20 free agents this offseason. Deion Jones, Kareem Hunt, Anthony Walker Jr., Greedy Williams, and Jadeveon Clowney are some of the key free agents this season for the Browns.
The team is expected to release safety John Johnson post-June 1 to save $9.75 million in cap.
The #Browns will release S John Johnson III at the start of the league year on March 15, barring a trade, sources say. Johnson was entering the final year of a three-year contract he signed as a free agent in 2021.
Still young at 27, he’ll have interest once free. https://t.co/lQ9odcg5Py
What went wrong for the Cleveland Browns in 2022?
The Cleveland Browns finished last season 7-10, which was last place in the AFC North.
#Browns will finish the season 7-10, last in the AFC North. But, thanks to the Miami Dolphins kicker, the Steelers will still miss the playoffs
Their $230 million man, Watson, had to sit out the first 11 games of the 2022 season due to his sexual assault accusations. They played with backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett and he went 4-7.
Watson made his season debut in Week 12 and finished 3-3 as the team's starting quarterback.
He finished the 2022-23 season with 1,102 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and five interceptions in six games. He had a passer rating of 79.1, which was by far the lowest of his career.
Cleveland were in a tough AFC North division where the other three teams (Steelers, Ravens, Bengals) each won nine or more games.
Their rookie kicker, Cade York, had a bad year, converting 75% of his kicks, which was 30th in the league. The defense didn't live up to expectations and that's why the team is expected to cut John Johnson and let Clowney walk in free agency.
We'll see what happens with the team this offseason. But if Watson takes a pay cut, it will certainly help them retain and sign players.