Whether the NFL draft, NFL free agency or both, the Browns roster needs quarterbacks
The Cleveland Browns head into the 2025 NFL offseason with a need to establish their identity. HC Kevin Stefanski and OL Joel Bitonio and Jack Conklin made it clear that the identity must come from a system and not an individual.
The hiring of OC Ken Dorsey was all about QB Deshaun Watson. While the firing of Dorsey may not have been all about Watson, it is clear that the Browns are not going back to building around the quarterback they traded and paid a huge ransom for.
Recently, Cleveland GM Andrew Berry and Watson came to a contract agreement. While talking to the media after the season, Berry wouldn’t divulge the nature of that contract but shared that Watson is dealing with a setback from his surgery:
#Browns EVP/GM Andrew Berry reveals that Deshaun Watson suffered a setback in his Achilles rehab and will lengthen the recovery process. They just learned about this.
— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) January 6, 2025
Berry was non-committal as to whether Watson would need another surgery or not:
Browns GM Andrew Berry: Too early to say if Deshaun Watson will need another Achilles surgery.
New information.
Deshaun Watson alerted medical staff during exit physical that something was wrong.— Scott Petrak ct (@ScottPetrak) January 6, 2025
The Achilles tear recovery process is often a long one depending on the type of surgery and the health of the person. Having a setback after the regular season ended, with the possibility of another procedure, means Watson is more likely to start next season on the Physically Unable to Perform list than competing for the starting job.
There is also the fact that the Browns have taken out a huge insurance policy on Watson that could offset much of his salary for cap purposes:
The #Browns have $44.3M of Watson’s 2025 salary insured for injury so there is some major financial relief available if he can not play due to the Achilles injury suffered this year.
— Jason_OTC (@Jason_OTC) January 6, 2025
We had covered this loophole earlier this season with ESPN sharing that Cleveland had insured over $58 million for 2024 after receiving $4 million in cap space this season for what they insured in 2023.
With the potential of more cap space in 2025, for what they insured in 2024, and then again in 2026, for what they insured in 2025, Berry might have more money for the Browns to spend than originally expected.
No longer on track with his Achilles injury and saving the Browns significant cap space if he’s injured for all or a significant portion of 2025 sets a clear path for Cleveland to move forward without Watson. A draft pick and a free agent signing at the quarterback position seems more likely than not at this point.
Do you think Watson will step foot even on the practice field next season? Do you think the NFL will grant the Browns significant salary cap space using the insurance loophole?