Quarterback Deshaun Watson has a salary cap hit that nearly triples the next member of the Cleveland Browns in 2024.
It is important to remember these numbers are extremely malleable. Last year, general manager Andrew Berry and the Browns restructured a handful of contracts to clear cap space, and they will do that again this year as well. Starting with their starting quarterback.
Berry has been among the most aggressive general managers in the NFL during his time with the Browns, and this offseason will be no different. But that starts with clearing cap space as the team currently sits $19 million in the red. Who are the biggest candidates beyond Deshaun Watson to see their contracts restructured? Look at the top of their cap hits. The majority of them will likely see their numbers reworked and their base salary converted to bonuses.
Here are Cleveland’s top-20 salary cap hits as they get set for free agency, the 2024 NFL draft, and the new league year.
1
QB Deshaun Watson: $63.977m
2
WR Amari Cooper: $23.776
3
CB Denzel Ward: $23.498m
4
DE Myles Garrett: $20.169m
5
RB Nick Chubb: $15.825m
6
OT Jedrick Wills: $14.581m
7
OG Joel Bitonio: $12.135m
8
OT Jack Conklin: $12.023m
9
OG Wyatt Teller: $11.610m
10
TE David Njoku: $9.645m
11
DT Dalvin Tomlinson: $6.502m
12
CB Greg Newsome II: $4.056m
13
DE Ogbo Okoronkwo: $4.030m
14
C Ethan Pocic: $3.964m
15
S Juan Thornhill: $3.784m
16
S Grant Delpit: $3.676m
17
DE Za'Darius Smith (void): $3.077m
18
K Dustin Hopkins: $3.040m
19
TE Jordan Akins: $2.015m
20
LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah: $2.061m
