The Browns just made a power financial move!
Creating a whopping $35.832 million in salary cap space, the Cleveland Browns have restructured the contract of their superstar quarterback Deshaun Watson, according to a report Thursday from ESPN’s Field Yates.
Originally, Watson had a 2024 base salary of $46 million, but the Browns decided to convert $44.79 million of it into a signing bonus, sources told Yates. And not only does it free up $35.832 million for the franchise, but it also reportedly gives them over $62 million in overall cap space, which is the highest number in the entire NFL. (RELATED: Millions Of Fans Could Lose Access To Both NFL And College Football Thanks To Disney-DirecTV Carriage Dispute)
It’s expected that Cleveland will use the majority of their cap space to give themselves flexibility next offseason when it comes to finances. Then, the projections are that they’ll be $44 million over the salary cap, per the Roster Management System that’s operated by ESPN.
The Browns’ biggest free agents in 2025 are wide receivers Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore, running back Nick Chubb and left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr.
The Browns have restructured the contract of QB Deshaun Watson, converting $44.79M of his 2024 base salary into a signing bonus and creating $35.832M in cap space, per source.
Cleveland now has over $62M in cap space, the most in the entire NFL. pic.twitter.com/KC9hLWQDT8
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) August 29, 2024
Brilliant move by the Cleveland Browns to just bite the bullet, pay Watson a fat signing bonus and free up a crap load of cap space while at it.
My only question is: Why did it take so long to restructure Watson’s contract?
It was a horrible deal from the get-go.
