Cleveland’s Contract Conundrum: Breaking Records for All the Wrong Reasons
So, here’s the scoop from Cleveland: the Browns are diving headfirst into a financial fiasco that just keeps getting wilder. And surprise, surprise, it all revolves around quarterback Deshaun Watson. The team has recently decided to make some questionable moves that essentially make this guy’s contract look like a ticking time bomb for their salary cap.
Turning Salary into Signing Bonuses
On Thursday, Cleveland announced a significant contract restructure that converts a whopping $44.79 million of Watson’s salary cap space this season into a signing bonus. What does that even mean? Well, it frees up $35.83 million in cap space for this season, according to reports. Now, that sounds great in the short term, but it leaves the Browns with more than $62 million in available cap space, the highest in the NFL. A bit late in the game to fill that space, don’t you think?
The clever plan seems to be rolling over that cap space into next year. However, the Browns might have to rethink their strategy because they’re already projected to be $66 million over the cap for 2024. And let’s not forget about the New Orleans Saints, who are in an even worse predicament with $94 million over the cap!
Watson’s Wild Numbers
As if things couldn’t get more insane, Watson’s contract has just ballooned even further. Originally, they handed him a record-breaking, fully guaranteed $230 million deal, and he hasn’t even been able to get past the almost constant *suspension and controversies* surrounding his name. After the two restructures, Watson is now staring down a $72.9 million cap hit for the 2025 and 2026 seasons. To top it all off, there’s an additional $26.9 million in void dead cap for 2027. Yikes!
Dead Money Alert!
If you’re still trying to wrap your head around this mess, here’s where it gets really dicey. The term “dead cap” usually makes fans nervous, and for good reason. If the Browns decide to cut Watson in 2025, they could be looking at a staggering $172 million in dead cap hits, and it doesn’t get any better in 2026 with $99 million. Just to give you an idea of how much that is, the current record for most dead money incurred belongs to the Broncos, who suffered an $85 million hit after they parted ways with Russell Wilson. The Browns are certainly setting a new benchmark here!
No Silver Linings
You might think this kind of investment would pay off, but, spoiler alert: it hasn’t. Watson has been less than stellar since joining the team. After missing 11 games in his first year due to suspension, he made a disappointing return. Sure, the Browns finished with a 5-1 record in games he played, but don’t let that fool you; the guy’s stats were subpar, and injuries kept him off the field for much of the season. Talk about a missed opportunity, especially when backup Joe Flacco was busy becoming a hometown hero during Watson’s absence.
Looking Ahead
Now, heading into his third year with the team, Watson is yet again facing a shoulder issue after lukewarm reviews during training camp. The situation raises eyebrows, especially since he hasn’t quite found his groove in head coach Kevin Stefanski’s playbook. Cleveland is stuck in a tough spot, hoping that the playmaker who once shined with the Houston Texans emerges from the shadows.
In the grand scheme of things, the Browns are steering a precarious ship full of financial chaos and unresolved player performance issues. The next few seasons will be critical as they navigate these murky waters and hope for a potential turnaround before it all goes south.
