The Cleveland Browns have made their quarterback decision for the start of the 2026 NFL season, naming Deshaun Watson the starter over Shedeur Sanders. While the move gives Watson another opportunity to revive his Browns career, his contract remains one of the biggest financial challenges facing the franchise.
Watson is entering the final season of the five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million contract he signed with Cleveland after the Browns acquired him from the Houston Texans in 2022. The deal was one of the largest guarantees in NFL history and continues to affect Cleveland’s roster-building plans years later.
Deshaun Watson Contract Details
Watson’s contract has become particularly important because of the salary-cap consequences attached to his departure.
The Browns still have roughly $127 million in salary-cap obligations connected to Watson. The timing of a potential release would determine how those charges are distributed across future seasons.
If Cleveland released Watson during the 2026 season, the projected cap impact would be approximately:
- 2026: $40.9 million
- 2027: $86.2 million
That potential $86.2 million dead-cap charge in 2027 is the biggest reason the Browns have not simply moved on from the veteran quarterback.
Why Can’t the Browns Simply Release Deshaun Watson?
Technically, Cleveland can release Watson. The problem is the financial fallout.
A release would not erase the remaining guaranteed money and other contract charges. Instead, much of the money would accelerate onto the Browns’ salary cap.
That means cutting Watson immediately could create a significant restriction on Cleveland’s ability to improve its roster through free agency and other transactions.
The Browns have a relatively young roster, making future salary-cap flexibility especially valuable. Cleveland could want to use that flexibility to add established talent around its developing core, but an early Watson release would make that more difficult.
What Happens With a Post-June 1 Release?
If Watson remains with Cleveland through the 2026 season, the Browns could use a post-June 1 release structure involving the remaining void years of his contract.
Under that approach, the projected cap charges would be spread out:
- 2026: $40.9 million
- 2027: $36 million
- 2028: $51.5 million
The total financial obligation does not disappear, but spreading the charges over multiple seasons can make the annual impact easier for Cleveland to absorb.
Salary-cap growth also matters. As the NFL salary cap increases, a large dollar amount can represent a smaller percentage of the overall cap in future years.
Watson’s 2026 Season Becomes Financially Important
Watson’s contract situation is even more significant because the Browns have now committed to him as their starting quarterback to open the 2026 season.
The decision came after Watson and Sanders competed throughout the offseason and training camp.
Watson missed the entire 2025 season while recovering from a twice-torn right Achilles tendon. His return to live preseason action was therefore an important step, but his performance has remained under intense scrutiny.
Against Buffalo, Watson struggled after entering the game, including an interception, while the Browns ultimately suffered a 31-7 defeat.
The performance added to questions about whether Cleveland can receive enough on-field value from Watson to justify keeping him on the roster while carrying such a large financial commitment.
Why the Browns Chose Watson Over Shedeur Sanders
Experience appears to have been a major factor in Cleveland’s decision.
Head coach Todd Monken has emphasized Watson’s seven seasons of NFL experience and his ability to operate the offense. Sanders, meanwhile, has impressed during his development but remains a young quarterback with limited NFL experience.
The Browns viewed both quarterbacks as capable of starting, but Watson’s experience and mobility gave him an advantage as Cleveland prepared for the regular season.
The decision does not necessarily settle Watson’s long-term future with the organization. His contract situation strongly suggests that 2026 could be his final season in Cleveland.
Watson’s Browns Career Has Not Matched the Contract
The financial pressure surrounding Watson’s contract is tied directly to his production since arriving in Cleveland.
Watson has started only 19 games for the Browns through his first three seasons with the team. He also missed significant time because of suspension and injuries, including his Achilles injury.
According to the information provided by The Athletic, Watson ranked near the bottom in EPA per pass play among quarterbacks who had started at least 10 games since Cleveland acquired him.
That production makes the size of the remaining salary-cap commitment even more difficult for the Browns to manage.
Could Watson Stay Beyond 2026?
It would be surprising if Watson remains with Cleveland beyond the 2026 season.
The Browns are expected to have substantial salary-cap space available in 2028 after Watson’s contract charges are accounted for. A post-June 1 approach could also preserve more flexibility for Cleveland in 2027 than an immediate release would.
The organization therefore faces a difficult balancing act: determine whether Watson can provide meaningful value in 2026 while avoiding unnecessary damage to its future salary-cap situation.
Deshaun Watson Contract and the Browns’ 2027 Cap
The 2027 season is the biggest concern.
If Cleveland releases Watson before using a post-June 1 designation, the Browns could face approximately $86.2 million in dead money in 2027. That would consume a huge portion of the team’s available resources.
By waiting and using a post-June 1 structure, Cleveland could reduce the 2027 charge to around $36 million and push another $51.5 million into 2028.
The difference gives the Browns significantly more flexibility to construct their roster.
How Watson’s Contract Compares With NFL Dead-Cap Records
Watson’s potential $86.2 million dead-cap figure would be enormous by NFL standards.
For comparison, Russell Wilson’s release from the Denver Broncos produced approximately $53 million in dead money. Tua Tagovailoa’s release by the Miami Dolphins resulted in a reported $55.4 million dead-cap charge in 2026, with additional dead money scheduled for 2027.
A potential $86.2 million Watson charge would therefore stand well above those figures.
What Happens Next for Deshaun Watson?
For now, Watson’s immediate focus is the 2026 season.
The Browns have chosen him as their starting quarterback, giving him a chance to prove that he can still be an effective NFL starter after his long absence.
At the same time, Cleveland must keep the financial consequences in mind. Even if Watson performs well, his contract situation will remain one of the most important decisions facing the organization.
If Watson struggles, pressure for a change could increase. However, an early release would come with an enormous salary-cap cost, making the decision far more complicated than simply choosing a different quarterback.
Final Take
The Deshaun Watson contract remains a major financial issue for the Cleveland Browns heading into the 2026 NFL season.
Cleveland can release Watson, but doing so immediately could create an estimated $86.2 million dead-cap charge in 2027. Waiting until after the season and using a post-June 1 release could spread the remaining charges across 2027 and 2028, giving the Browns greater flexibility.
With Watson now named the starter, the Browns have effectively chosen to see what the veteran quarterback can offer before making their next major financial decision.
For Cleveland, the 2026 season is therefore about more than wins and losses. It could determine how the franchise finally moves forward from one of the most complicated contracts in its recent history
Leave a Reply