The Cleveland Browns hold the second overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft after going 3-14 in 2024. Quarterback Deshaun Watson tore his Achilles in Week 7, ending his third season with the team early.
Watson is still owed over $90 million of his fully guaranteed contract, but the Browns could get salary cap relief if he can’t play in 2025.
Deshaun Watson’s Latest Injury Could Provide Browns With Much-Needed Cap Relief
Cleveland traded three first-round picks, a third-round pick, and a fourth-round selection for Watson in the 2022 offseason. The Browns gave Watson a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract as part of the trade, and this has become arguably the worst transaction in NFL history.
This was a big swing by Andrew Berry that hasn’t worked out, but Watson re-tearing his Achilles could have unlocked an “escape hatch” for Cleveland’s GM.
OutKick’s Armando Salguero recently broke down Cleveland’s insurance policy on Watson. He wrote, “Ending the Watson experiment is the only sensible thing for a team that has gotten only 19 games, 19 touchdowns, and nine victories in three seasons from Watson.
“It’s not easy to think this way because of the team’s huge investment in the player. But it’s right because the Browns have been given an opportunity. Fate, you see, has granted them a chance to mitigate the damage they did to themselves via Watson’s contract. The club wisely bought insurance that grants them cap relief if Watson misses a certain number of games each season.”
Watson has played in six, six, and seven games in his three seasons with the Browns, throwing 12 interceptions along with his 19 touchdowns.
“Watson’s contract, which OutKick examined on Sunday, provides for up to $44.2 million in insurance on his 2025 salary.” Salguero continued, “So the club could benefit between $37 million and $44.2 million in 2026 cap relief if Watson misses this entire season. That would mean Watson’s salary cap number, currently scheduled to be $81.6 million in 2026, could drop to the mid $40s or lower.”
He points out that Cleveland would still be on the hook for the $91 million in dead cap, but that number will be spread out over multiple void years. The big moment will be if Watson gets medically cleared to play in 2025 after re-rupturing his Achilles early this offseason.
Salguero notes that Watson will likely start the season on the physically unable to perform list, and if he can’t get cleared to play, the Browns will essentially have the decision made for them. Buying insurance on Watson could end up being the smartest move Berry has made as GM.