The NFL dealt a fatal blow to the Cleveland Browns’ salary cap. The league recently cleared quarterback DeShaun Watson after an exhaustive investigation for sexual misconduct, which will force the Browns to cover the guaranteed amounts in the massive contract it extended to the player in 2022.
Watson came to the Browns two years ago from the Houston Texans, in a trade in which Cleveland had to give up three draft picks to get the services of the controversial signal-caller.
Already in 2022, Watson had to serve an 11-game suspension for another investigation into sexual misconduct. In September 2024, the player was accused of sexual assault by another woman, who was seeking compensation of more than $1 million. The parties reached an out-of-court settlement, and the NFL closed the investigation against the player.
The consequences for the Browns
In statements to the AP, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy explained, “The matter is closed. There was insufficient evidence to support a finding of a violation of the personal conduct policy.” This leaves the Browns between a rock and a hard place, forced to pay $96 million in guaranteed salary to Watson.
Cleveland extended Watson a five-year, $230 million contract extension in 2022. Since then, the quarterback has only played 19 games with the Browns due to multiple injuries, exempting the team from paying performance bonuses.
Had he been suspended for violating the NFL’s conduct policies, the Browns would have been spared $46 million in guaranteed pay in 2025 and 2026. Now, the team is faced with the dilemma of either reinstating the player to the active roster as soon as he’s healed from his injury or releasing him and absorbing the hit to its salary cap.
Who has replaced Watson?
Even before the suspension and his legal troubles, Watson had not been the game-changer the Browns had hoped. DeShaun is just 9-10 since arriving in Cleveland, while his replacement, Jameis Winston, is 2-3 since taking over the offense in late October.
The Browns have struggled to upgrade their roster because of Watson’s massive contract. While they could get away with paying him performance bonuses, the hit to their salary cap is irreversible, so there are tough years ahead for the team, which will have to make do with what it has.
