So, what’s next for Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland Browns? With a season plagued by injury and expensive player commitments in his pocket, the outcome is more than just notable. The Browns are on the hook for $46 million each of the next two years to Watson. This significant financial obligation further complicates any decision to move on from him. Watson is coming off a disappointing 2023 season. In October, he tore his right Achilles tendon, making the team’s quarterback situation even murkier.
Watson typically requires a nine to ten month recovery for this kind of injury. This timeline raises serious questions about his return for the beginning of next season. At present, he’s at the Browns’ practice facility in Berea, Ohio where he’s still in a rehab program. Despite hopes for a turnaround, Watson’s performance in 2024 was significantly worse than in 2023, raising concerns about his effectiveness moving forward.
Now, the Browns have restructured Watson’s contract three times since they traded for him. This honestly speaks volumes about their desire to recoup the financial ramifications of his fully guaranteed contract. The team has been aggressively maneuvering their salary cap around. As it stands, they are $15 million over the cap for the 2026 season. The Browns have guaranteed up to $44.2 million of Watson’s 2025 salary. This move allows him to lower their financial exposure should they decide to go their separate ways with him.
Given this precarious financial landscape, the Browns are considering selecting one of the top quarterbacks in the upcoming NFL draft. Even Jimmy Haslam, the team’s owner, admitted that there was urgency in finding a solution to their quarterback woes.
“We took a big swing-and-miss with Deshaun,” – Jimmy Haslam.
The Browns also made a huge trade in March, acquiring 2022 first-rounder Kenny Pickett. They parted ways with that fifth-round pick and then some by sending Thompson-Robinson to the Philadelphia Eagles. This addition further cements the franchise’s commitment to find stability at the game’s most important position. Since their return to the NFL in 1999, they’ve cycled through 40 different starters.
“We thought we had the quarterback; we didn’t. And we gave up a lot of draft picks to get him, so we’ve got to dig ourselves out of that hole.” – Jimmy Haslam.
With Watson’s recovery and performance uncertain, and having not re-signed last year’s backup Jameis Winston, the Browns find themselves in a precarious situation. Haslam emphasized that if a viable quarterback opportunity arises, they will not hesitate to pursue it:
Even if they do not land a top prospect in the draft, Haslam assured fans that the team would continue to search for talent:
“The message is if the right [quarterback] is there, we’re going to take him,” – Jimmy Haslam.
Watson’s agent remains optimistic about his client’s future despite the challenges he faces. The agent noted that:
“If not, we’ll figure it out for a year or two until we get the right person. We need good football players. There’s good football players in this draft, and we got to make sure we get the right ones for us.” – Jimmy Haslam.
He added that teams might take a chance on Watson if he proves healthy, although some owners may still have reservations due to his past controversies:
“The league is forgiving with quarterbacks that have exhibited high-level talent.”
While the Browns plot their next moves in what could be another tumultuous offseason, they face some tough cost-benefit analysis. Yet Watson’s monstrous contract and extensive injury history only add to the difficulty of the hypothetical scenarios that could decide whether he stays or goes with Cleveland.
“There is a shortage of good QB play. That’s why I think a team could take a chance on him if he proves healthy. Some owners could have a problem with that because of the past, but not all.” – Watson’s agent.
A foot and ankle specialist weighed in on Watson’s recovery process, noting that:
This realization could suggest that the return of Watson will be pushed back further. It might prevent him from being rusty upon his eventual return as well.
“Anytime you have [to] go back in somewhere, it changes the ballgame a little bit… typically that means slower recovery in the beginning and a longer overall recovery, and the clock starts back over.” – A foot and ankle specialist.
This insight suggests that Watson’s return may not only be delayed but could also affect his performance when he does return.
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