The Cleveland Browns are expected to part ways with Deshaun Watson following the season.
The Browns made a bold move to acquire Watson from the Houston Texans to be their franchise quarterback. Yet, he has struggled with play and has had a plethora of injuries, which has made the trade an epic failure.
Although Watson could make a comeback later this year, Browns insider Zac Jackson expects Cleveland to cut the veteran quarterback this offseason.
“The Browns seem headed for a second straight three-win season. And Watson’s current salary-cap number for 2026 is $80.7 million, per Over the Cap,” Jackson wrote. “With the only real alternative being to continue to restructure the deal, keep Watson on the team and push big cap hits even further to the future to basically halve the 2026 number.
“It seems inevitable that the Browns will officially cut ties with a post-June 1 designation early next year. Which would put his dead-money number for 2026 in the range of $70 million to $80 million after whatever insurance credit the team receives.”
Although the Browns could have an entirely new front office, Jackson expects whoever is running the team to cut Watson as their first move.
“It’s important to note here that we’re projecting well into the future and don’t yet know if the folks currently in charge of the Browns’ football operations will still be in those roles ahead of next season,” Jackson wrote. …
“With the Browns still on the hook for around $135 million to Watson after this year, going the post-June 1 cut route would then leave around $50 million for 2027. The current structure of the deal calls for Watson to be on the team’s cap through 2029.”
Browns Won’t Give an Update on Watson
Although Watson has been posting updates on his rehab, the Browns haven’t been putting much thought into his comeback.
Ahead of the Browns’ Week 11 home game against the Baltimore Ravens, Stefanski didn’t have an update on Watson’s future or if he will have his 21-day practice window activated.
“I don’t have an update there,” Stefanski said on Wednesday.
With the Browns not giving an update on Watson, Jackson believes that does signal the veteran will be cut this offseason.
“Watson might be cleared to return to practice soon,” Jackson added. “But actually putting him on the field this year would mean the Browns are just reminding themselves again of how they got here. And how their Band-Aid attempts haven’t worked. It’s probably best to formally cut him next year and move on with something like the rookie-heavy strategy.”
Watson Posts Cryptic Message Amid Potential Return
Watson suffered a setback to his Achilles in January, which has kept him out.
Yet, Watson has shown himself working out, and he took to Instagram to share a cryptic message about his future.
“Be READY! MoreGLORY,” Watson wrote in a post showing him throwing and training.
Watson also posted it on his story with the caption, “Had to walk a lot of miles to get here.”
The quarterback is in the midst of his five-year, $230 million deal he signed with the Browns.
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