Deshaun

Watson

It’s the second time the Browns have restructured Watson’s deal since December. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Browns will owe Watson a minimum salary in 2025 and $46 million in 2026, which would satisfy the remaining money on his deal. Watson ruptured his Achilles in Week 7 of last season and ruptured it again in January while rehabbing. It seems increasingly unlikely that Watson will ever play again for the Browns after a disastrous first three seasons, as the team appears more than ready to move on from him.

Watson re-tore his Achilles in January and is expected to miss “significant time” next season. What Watson was doing at the time of his injury was of interest to the Browns, as anything outside the scope of his rehab and recovery may have created an out for them when it comes to the remaining money on his contract. Watson is owed $92 million in guaranteed money over the next two seasons. There’s a very real chance he never plays another snap for the Browns again.

“How far that spans into 2025, I can’t give you a specific right now,” Berry continued, essentially refusing to speculate on Watson’s prospects of playing this coming season. The Browns are probably going to add multiple quarterbacks this offseason and leave Watson in the rear-view mirror. We’d be surprised if he plays a meaningful down for the organization again, as Browns Athletic beat writer Zac Jackson mentioned that as a possibility in January. It’s unlikely Watson would have a clear path back to the Browns starting lineup even if he was cleared from his second Achilles rupture sooner than expected.

The Browns could certainly make things contentious if they choose to here. Watson’s contract is fully guaranteed, and without the fully-guaranteed deal, there’s not much reason he needs to be on the roster at this point with little chance of playing in 2025 and almost no investment in the idea that he’s still a starting-caliber quarterback. Watson has $92 million in guaranteed money due to him over the next two years. Both sides moving on feels inevitable, it’s just a question of how long it takes to get there.

Things go from bad to worse for Watson, who tore his Achilles for a second time after suffering the initial injury less than three months ago. It’s hard to know the impact of this injury on the Browns, as the team has long been rumored to be interested in adding other quarterbacks this offseason. Some have gone as far as to speculate that Watson will “never play a meaningful snap for the Browns again.” Regardless, Watson faces an even longer road to recovery after undergoing another surgery on Thursday to repair this second tear. It wouldn’t be surprising if this injury sidelined Watson for all of next season. According to Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap, if Watson re-injured himself while doing something “he was not supposed to be doing” the guarantees in his contract could be at risk.

Berry said the team is still gathering information on Watson’s injury while adding that it’s “too early to tell” if Watson will be able to play in 2025. He also didn’t rule out the possibility of Watson needing another surgery. Watson is already expected to be with the Browns next season, but there have already been reports that the veteran quarterback “is almost certain to never play a meaningful snap for the Browns again,” after the team restructured his contract in late December. We’ll likely know more on Watson’s setback later in the week.

The Browns will have Deshaun Watson under contract next season, but the belief is he’ll “never play a meaningful down” for the team ever again. The Browns could kick the tires on a rookie signal-caller next season, but according to a source who spoke with Fowler, any quarterback “with starter’s talent” will be looked at — including guys like Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold, unsurprisingly. They also won’t rule out bringing back Jameis Winston, who threw for 2121-13-12 in the 12 games he appeared in this season. Quarterback is one of several needs the Browns will need to address this offseason, but it’s arguably their biggest. According to Over the Cap, the Browns are roughly $17 million over the cap, but they’ll push some numbers around to get under the cap before free agency. It’s sure to be an interesting offseason in Cleveland, with potential staff changes also incoming after they conclude their season on Saturday against the Ravens.

Jackson further writes the Browns are “pretty much starting from scratch at quarterback in the spring.” Ian Rapoport linked the Browns to Aaron Rodgers and Kirk Cousins as “competition” in 2025. But perhaps Watson has not even earned the benefit of the doubt to be competition after three lost years in Cleveland and a long-term recovery from his torn Achilles. Complicating matters is that the Browns have a shot at the No. 1 pick and will likely pick No. 2 or No. 3 after their Week 18 game against the Ravens, one in which Baltimore needs to win to clinch the AFC North. Baltimore is favored by 18 points.

The Browns reworked Deshaun Watson’s contract this week, all but guaranteeing his spot on the roster for the 2025 season. However, Rapoport expects them to bring in competition for the struggling quarterback, adding that he wouldn’t be surprised if it comes in the form of a veteran addition. Cousins is set to be released by the Falcons after being benched for rookie quarterback Michael Penix. Rodgers is likely on the way out as well with the Jets set to hire a new general manager and head coach. The fresh faces will almost certainly want a quarterback of their choosing under center, leaving Rodgers looking for a new home once again.

Rapoport reported earlier today that the Browns have restructured Deshaun Watson’s contract, keeping Watson in Cleveland for at least 2025. Rapoport later suggested that Watson will face a competition for the starting role, however, indicating it could be either a rookie or a veteran acquisition.