https://player.anyclip.com/anyclip-widget/lre-widget/prod/v1/src/lre.jsThe Cleveland Browns are casting serious doubt on the timetable of quarterback Deshaun Watson after he re-ruptured his Achilles while rehabbing at his home in Miami.
This means their massive $230 million investment likely never takes another snap again in the brown and orange and potentially ever in the NFL. The good news for the Browns, however, is that they had Watson’s contract insured in case the quarterback had to miss significant time due to injury or suspension.
They received some relief this past season for his time missed in 2023, they’ll receive some relief in 2025 for the time he missed this year, and they will see almost his entire salary covered by insurance if Watson cannot take the field at all in 2025.
The Browns have $44.3 million of Watson’s $46 million base salary covered by insurance.
Yes, this means that the Browns will see $44.3 million put back into their cap space. However, this policy would not be cashed out until after the 2025 season, so the Browns would see that total recouped in their 2026 cap space.
After his latest contract restructure, the Browns are on a timeline to cut Watson with a post-June 1 designation after the 2026 season, so expect that money to be rolled over when they do collect it to completely wash out the dead cap burden of $35 million in 2027 and still have some cash left over to spend from the insurance payment.