The Cleveland Browns are stuck in salary cap purgatory due to the disastrous, fully guaranteed $230 million contract they gave to quarterback Deshaun Watson as part of the trade from the Houston Texans. Watson tore his Achilles tendon and is expected to miss most, if not all, of next season. However, based on the cap number for 2025, he still tops the list of highest-paid players on the Browns.
10 Highest-Paid Players on the Cleveland Browns
#1 – Deshaun Watson, Quarterback ($35.97 million)
Deshaun Watson tops the list, even if he were to be placed on injury reserve next season. Watson suffered a setback in his recovery from a torn Achilles and will likely be out for most of the season. His cap number balloons in 2026 to $80.71 million, and the team is likely to have to cut him before the number counts against the cap.
#2 – Denzel Ward, Cornerback ($24.56 million)
Denzel Ward has made four Pro Bowls since joining the Browns as the fourth overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. He signed a five-year, $100.5 million contract extension in 2022, a deal that made him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history at the time.
#3 – Myles Garrett, Defensive End ($21.92 million)
The 2023 Defensive Player of the Year, Myles Garrett requested a trade this offseason but was convinced to stay with a four-year, $160 million contract extension. He became the first non-quarterback to get an annual salary that passed the $40 million per year threshold.
#4 – Wyatt Teller, Guard ($18.67 million)
Wyatt Teller joined the Browns in 2019 and has since made the right guard spot his own. Teller was even voted All-Pro twice, in 2020 and 2021. Teller is in the final year of a four-year, $56 million contract extension he signed in 2021.
#5 – Greg Newsome II, Cornerback ($13.38 million)
Greg Newsome was drafted by the Browns in 2021 with their first-round pick. His $13.38 million salary is fully guaranteed after the Browns exercised his fifth-year option. Newsome was ranked 177th among 223 cornerbacks by PFF for his performance in the 2024 season.
#6 – Joel Bitonio, Guard ($11.93 million)
Joel Bitonio is the Browns’ longest tenured player, having joined as a draft pick in 2014. He is a seven-time Pro Bowler and has been selected every year since 2018. Bitonio signed a three-year, $48 million contract extension that ends after the 2025 season.
#7 – David Njoku, Tight End ($11.44 million)
Pass-catching tight end David Njoku has been with the team since 2017. He signed a four-year, $56.75 million contract extension in 2022 that will expire after the upcoming season.
#8 – Jerry Jeudy, Wide Receiver ($7.98 million)
Jerry Jeudy was acquired in a trade from the Denver Broncos last season. The Browns then gave him a three-year, $58 million contract extension. He repaid their faith with 90 receptions for 1,229 yards, career highs in both categories. That production earned him his first Pro Bowl call-up.
#9 – Ethan Pocic, Center ($7.76 million)
Ethan Pocic signed with the Browns as a free agent in 2022 and was named the starting center. He was then given a three-year, $18 million extension in 2023.
#10 – Grant Delpit, Safety ($5.94 million)
Midway through the 2023 season, the Browns gave starting safety Grant Delpit a three-year, $36 million contract extension. He had a sack and a fumble recovery in 16 games last season.