Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has already set a notable NFL record here in 2023, even though the new league year hasn’t officially commenced yet.
According to NFL analyst Warren Sharp, Watson’s 2023 cap hit will come in at $54.993 million. This is far-and-away the largest cap hit in NFL history, as Sharp pointed out that a player’s cap hit never topped $39 million until now.
Watson signed a five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million contract with the Browns last offseason following a trade from the Houston Texans. As part of the trade, Houston landed Cleveland’s 2022, 2023 and 2024 first-round draft picks.
Watson was suspended for the first 11 games of the 2022 season and fined $5 million over allegations of sexual misconduct from 24 women.
The 27-year-old Watson struggled on his return to the field. He completed 58.2 percent of pass attempts for 1,102 yards and seven touchdowns against five interceptions, going 3-3 as the team’s starting QB.
Cleveland’s offense actually fared better under journeyman Jacoby Brissett, who had 12 passing touchdowns against six interceptions in his 11 game appearances. The Browns finished last in the AFC North with a record of 7-10, missing out on the postseason for the second consecutive year.
