Deshaun Watson’s contract with the Cleveland Browns has been the subject of much discussion since he signed it. And that’s likely to continue.
The quarterback and the organization reached an agreement Thursday for a salary restructuring that frees up $35.832 million on the team’s payroll.
To do so, the Browns converted $44.79 million of the $46 million that was to be paid to Watson as a base salary in 2024 into a signing bonus, according to Field Yates of ESPNIn the end, Cleveland benefits from $62 million in payroll space, a record in the NFL.
However, the Browns are expected to use the money to gain financial flexibility heading into 2025 when running back Nick Chubb and wide receiver Amari Cooper, among others, become free agents.
This is already the second time that Watson’s contract has been adjusted, having agreed to a $230 million guaranteed pact in 2022 after his trade from the Houston Texans.
After a rough start with the Browns, Watson is recovering from shoulder surgery. He didn’t play in preseason, but he’s expected to be back in action for the season opener on Sept. 8 against the Dallas Cowboys.
The Browns also released quarterback Tyler Huntley, who accepted their offer as a free agent in March when the team was decimated by injuries and had to offer the starting quarterback job to five different players.
Huntley became redundant after sophomore quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson had a strong camp and preseason schedule. Thompson-Robinson made three starts and played in eight games as a rookie quarterback in 2023-24.
As of Thursday, the Browns had four quarterbacks on their 53-man active roster: Watson, Huntley, Thompson-Robinson and Jameis Winston.
Huntley threw three touchdown passes last week in the Browns’ final preseason game.
Huntley, 26, agreed to a one-year, minimum-salary contract with the Browns after playing backup quarterback to Lamar Jackson for the Baltimore Ravens the past three seasons. He went 3-7 in 10 starts with the Ravens.
