What should Browns do with $21 million in cap space? 3 moves GM Andrew Berry should swing after Deshaun Watson's contract restructure
The Cleveland Browns restructured their contract with quarterback Deshaun Watson this morning, clearing up a significant amount of cap space. Watson was set to earn approximately $54 million this upcoming season. But with the restructuring of his contract, his 2023 salary has been lowered to $19.125 million. This saves the Browns $36 million.
The #Browns have restructured QB Deshaun Watson’s contract, creating nearly $36M in cap space, source said. The cap conversion gives plenty of room for Cleveland to work in free agency.
According to overthecap.com, the Browns have nearly $21 million in cap space. Before the move, the team was about $14 million over the cap. Watson's $54 million hit accounted for the majority of the cap.
His annual average salary for the following three seasons will be $63.96 million. He signed a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract last offseason when the team acquired him via trade. His decision to take a pay cut gives the team the chance to sign more free agents to bolster the roster.
The Browns are expected to make more moves to help create more cap space. They will release safety John Johnson in the coming days. This will save them an additional $9.7 million in cap space for this upcoming season. With the move, the Browns will have approximately $30 million in cap space.
Barring a trade, the #Browns will release S John Johnson III at the start of the league year. Johnson, 27, was entering the final year of a 3-year contract he signed in 2021 (@MikeGarafolo).
If made a June 1st cut, the #Browns will save $9.7M on the cap with a $3.7M dead money… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… https://t.co/lzRjy2oKWQ
Cleveland could also restructure deals with players such as Amari Cooper, Myles Garrett, Wyatt Teller, and Denzel Ward.
Three moves the Browns should make now that they have some cap space
#1 - Extend wide receiver Amari Cooper & Myles Garrett
The Cleveland Browns acquired Amari Cooper last offseason from the Dallas Cowboys. He was their best receiver last year, recording 78 receptions for 1,160 yards and nine touchdowns.
Cooper has a cap hit of $23.7 million for the next two seasons. The Browns could lower that number this season and use the money they saved to sign him to a lucrative contract extension. He's been one of their league's best wide receivers for nearly a decade and is still performing at the Pro Bowl level.
Extending him for a few more years would provide the team with more cap flexibility and ensure Watson has a reliable target.
Garrett is under contract with the team through the 2026 season. This season, he will have a $29 million cap hit. He'll have cap hits of $32 million, $27.5 million, and $28.5 million in the following three seasons. He's recorded 10+ sacks in each of the last five seasons.
Like Cooper, extending Garrett could lower his big cap hit this season. It would create more cap space and ensure that the best defensive player in franchise history is under contract for a couple more seasons.
#2 - Sign wide recevier Adam Thielen
Adam Thielen became a free agent last week when the Minnesota Vikings released him after he refused to take a pay cut. In a thinner wide receiver free agent class, Thielen is one of the top targets. He's one of several free agent WRs on the Browns radar.
The #Browns have 6 WRs "on their radar" as they enter free-agency, per @MaryKayCabot
They include:
#Texans Brandin Cooks
#Jets Elijah Moore
#Chiefs Mecole Hardman
#Lions DJ Chark
And already free-agents Odell Beckham and Adam Thielen. https://t.co/H1XrookXHm
Thielen would be a good number two wide out on the opposite side of Cooper. If the team restructures or extends Cooper, then they'll have some extra cash to land Thielen. Last season, Thielen recorded 716 receiving yards and six touchdowns, proving that he's still productive at this point in his career.
Last season, Thielen would have finished third on the Browns with 716 receiving yards. He would have also been second in touchdown receptions.
#3 - Sign Javon Hargrave
The Cleveland Browns defense has to improve next season. Their defense would become a lot more dangerous if they signed an impactful defensive lineman like Javon Hargrave.
Per Source: Javon Hargrave is viewed by the Browns as their "top target" this off-season
He's viewed as their top target this offseason and would help out the interior defensive line. Hargrave recorded a career-high 11 sacks last season and would easily make Cleveland's defensive line with Myles Garrett better than last year.
With the legal tampering period beginning today, the Browns will be able to negotiate more confidently. They have more cap space this offseason due to the restructuring of Watson's contract.