Despite his off-the-field issues, Deshaun Watson reset the NFL quarterback market when he signed a fully guaranteed $230 million contract with the Browns during the 2022 offseason. His contract is the sole reason why Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens couldn’t come to terms on a new deal.
It’s no surprise that the Browns would look to restructure Watson’s contract, as he is set to have a massive cap hit of about $55 million in 2023. Watson has already made it clear that he is okay with this, but even if he wasn’t fine with it, he would have no choice in the matter.
Pro Football Talk reported Thursday that the Cleveland Browns have the automatic right to restructure his contract whether he likes it or not.
“Per a source with knowledge of the contract, the Browns have the right to convert “any portion” of Watson’s compensation (salary, bonuses, etc.) into a signing bonus, in any year of the contract.”
This year, Watson has a $46 million salary and a cap number of $54.993 million. He is due nearly $55 million in guarantees each of the next four seasons.
Cleveland can’t get avoid giving Watson that money, but there are ways to restructure the deal to open up cap space. The front office just has to figure it out.
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Having not played since 2020, Watson’s original six-game suspension ultimately settled at 11 games, and he didn’t make his Cleveland Browns debut until Week 13.
Watson completed 90 of his 170 passing attempts for 1,102 yards and seven touchdowns against five interceptions in his six games played in 2022.
