Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, who is still owed $92 million from the team, may not step on the field in 2025.
He told the team yesterday that he had suffered a setback in his recovery from the ruptured Achilles he suffered earlier this season.
The Browns, however, have Watson’s contract insured. This means they will see some financial relief for time missed by Watson over the past two seasons. Just how much (and keep in mind the insured money does not hit the team’s cap space until the following year)?
The Browns had about $14 million of his contract in 2024. With him missing about half of the season, the Browns will see an additional toll of around $7 million added to their cap space total in 2025.
If Watson does not play a down of football in all of 2025, the Browns would receive $44.3 million in insured relief. This is all but $1.7 million of Watson’s guaranteed salary in 2025.
This would be recouped in cap space the following year, meaning the Browns would see that 44.3 million hit their account in 2026 if Watson is indeed out all of 2025 as he recovers from his Achilles injury.
