NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero floated a non-Kirk Cousins option out for the Browns in free agency…
The Cleveland Browns are looking to move on from the failed Deshaun Watson experience, and they could turn to former first round pick Daniel Jones.
Do not discount the possibility that the Browns are highly interested in either Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders or Miami’s Cam Ward. However, if the Browns do not view either option as a player who is ready to take over the starting job from Day 1, then a veteran option is also still firmly on the table.
During a media byte on Radio Row at the Super Bowl, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero added another name to the list of veteran quarterbacks to watch. While Kirk Cousins, who is almost certainly going to be released by the Atlanta Falcons, is the popular name given his connection with head coach Kevin Stefanski, Pelissero floated out the former No. 6 overall pick Jones as another option:
Perhaps the Browns could be banking on a bit of time away from the New York Giants and with NFL Coach of the Year Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota may have straightened some issues out for Jones just as it did for Sam Darnold.
Given the age and play of Cousins a year ago, there is a pathway to seeing the argument for the younger, bigger-armed, and more mobile Jones in the short term as the team looks to move past the horrendous Watson era.
With NFL free agency about a month away, it’s going to get interesting in Berea.
PFF sees a pathway for the Browns to get out of the grave they dug themselves.
There is no doubt about it that the decision made by the Cleveland Browns to trade for and extend quarterback Deshaun Watson blew up in their face.
Not only did they guarantee him $230 million over five years, but they traded more than three first round picks to acquire him. Now on the tail end of the Watson era in Cleveland after he re-ruptured his Achilles, the Browns have to dig themselves out of the grave they willingly jumped into.
One analyst, however, thinks they’ve got the assets to do so.
PFF’s Timo Riske has outlined where all 32 teams sit in the amount of assets they have this offseason, and the Browns are nowhere near the bottom of the list. In fact, they sit in the top half of the league in assets at their disposal.
Riske divides assets into three categories: draft picks, effective salary cap space, and restructure potential.
While the Browns have the least amount of effective cap space in the entire NFL, they do have near the top in restructure potential. This will elevate their effective cap space to work with this offseason when the new league year begins in March. The Browns also have the most draft capital of any NFL team this season with 11 picks thus far.
The Cleveland Browns will likely be without quarterback Deshaun Watson for all of the 2025 season and he may have played his last down of football in the brown and orange.
However, that could be the least of Watson’s worries as his re-ruptured Achilles carries far greater financial significance than just the Browns looking for his replacement this offseason.
Salary cap expert Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap has put the injury into a much steeper light that could lead to significant financial losses for the quarterback and significant gains for the Browns:
“Regarding Watson, if the Achilles injury occurred under normal rehab directed by the team his contract would still be protected. If the injury was a result of something he was not supposed to be doing his guarantees would be at risk either now or by the summer.”
So, if Watson did not re-injure the Achilles while rehabbing or doing any sort of team-condoned football activity, then Watson could forfeit his guarantees. This would allow the Browns to cut him immediately with no losses or dead money outside of the prorated bonuses they have already restructured over the past two seasons.
The Browns are likely getting an insurance company involved and filing a claim as well, as they took out a policy on Watson’s contract. If Watson misses all of the 2025 season, the Browns will recoup $44.3 million which will be reflected on their 2026 salary cap.
This situation is far from over and has the potential to become a much larger story.
Immediately signing Deshaun Watson to one of the most significant contracts in NFL history always seemed like it would be a massive mistake for the Browns.
So, now, Watson will likely have another year of rehab ahead of him. Expectations were already going to be low for his return. But now that he’s torn his Achilles a second time? We’re talking rock bottom.
The best solution for the Browns would be to get off of his contract. But, at this point, that’s nearly impossible. Let’s go over the options.
Why a trade won’t work
Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
This one feels pretty obvious, guys. Nobody is trading for this contract.
Even before you talk about the money, you’ve got the off-the-field issues with Watson that will be nothing but a distraction for whatever team he’s on.
But it becomes more impossible when you talk about the money. Watson is owed $46 million in guaranteed money in his deal this season. Whatever team trades for him would likely have to pay most of that. On top of that, the Browns would probably have to sweeten the pot a bit with first-round picks to even get a team to bite.
That’s not happening. No team is willing to pay that much for a broken QB and the Browns are probably not willing to pay anybody anything to ship him out.
Why the Browns can’t cut him
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Well, technically, Cleveland could cut Watson. But they won’t do it. It’ll be way too expensive.
“Cutting Watson next spring would eat up 63 percent of 2025’s estimated salary cap for a player who wouldn’t play a snap for the team. It would leave an average of $1.88 million in salary for the 53 players who remained. The league’s minimum is currently a shade under $800,000. Designating him a post-June 1 release knocks that number down to $119.9 million, which is better but still very, very bad.”
It looks like 2026 is the more likely year for Watson to be cut. The Browns would absorb $73 million in dead money but would avoid losing cap space. Regardless, though, it’s going to cost the Browns when they finally do dump Watson.
The real solution
The Browns are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Either you keep a washed quarterback around on your roster and pay him to do nothing or you get rid of him…while paying him to do nothing.
You’re cooked either way if you’re the Browns. There’s no way to mitigate the damage done. Your franchise has lost momentum because you chose to chase a quarterback with too many red flags to count. The damage is done.
The real solution here was to never make the move in the first place. So, since time machines don’t exist, the only thing left to do is wallow around in mediocrity.
Deshaun Watson suffered a second Achilles tendon injury
The Cleveland Browns will be without quarterback Deshaun Watson for the foreseeable future, including significant time in the 2025 season. The controversial Watson suffered a second rupture of his right Achilles tendon and had surgery to fix the issue.
The Browns gave Watson a massive contract — $230 million — when acquired from the Houston Texans. It is generally regarded as the worst pact in NFL history given the returns on the field.
Watson has gone 9-10 in three seasons, throwing 19 touchdowns against 12 interceptions.
The Browns pick second overall in the 2025 draft and Watson’s injury should play a large role in whether they draft a quarterback.
The Browns have Watson’s contract insured. What does it mean now that he’s re-ruptured his achilles?
The Cleveland Browns are casting serious doubt on the timetable of quarterback Deshaun Watson after he re-ruptured his Achilles while rehabbing at his home in Miami.
This means their massive $230 million investment likely never takes another snap again in the brown and orange and potentially ever in the NFL. The good news for the Browns, however, is that they had Watson’s contract insured in case the quarterback had to miss significant time due to injury or suspension.
They received some relief this past season for his time missed in 2023, they’ll receive some relief in 2025 for the time he missed this year, and they will see almost his entire salary covered by insurance if Watson cannot take the field at all in 2025.
The Browns have $44.3 million of Watson’s $46 million base salary covered by insurance.
Yes, this means that the Browns will see $44.3 million put back into their cap space. However, this policy would not be cashed out until after the 2025 season, so the Browns would see that total recouped in their 2026 cap space.
After his latest contract restructure, the Browns are on a timeline to cut Watson with a post-June 1 designation after the 2026 season, so expect that money to be rolled over when they do collect it to completely wash out the dead cap burden of $35 million in 2027 and still have some cash left over to spend from the insurance payment.
Deshaun Watson’s future with the Cleveland Browns remains uncertain, as Pro Football Focus listed him among 15 potential trade candidates for the 2025 offseason. While the Browns recently restructured Watson’s contract, suggesting plans to keep him next season, some analysts believe a trade could still be on the table.
PFF’s Bradley Locker pointed to Watson’s underwhelming performance in Cleveland:
“The Browns seem to be giving Watson one last chance to prove himself, but that doesn’t mean Cleveland won’t finally cut the cord… It wouldn’t be a shocker if [a newcomer] supplants Watson.”
Watson has struggled since joining the Browns, with no season-long passing grade above 66.8 and just one game graded over 80.0 in 19 appearances. Financial considerations also complicate a trade, as moving him after June 1 would carry a $26.9 million dead cap hit, compared to $80.7 million if done earlier.
Injuries have also taken a toll. Watson suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 7 after playing just six games in 2023 due to injury. In seven games this season, he threw for 1,148 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions while rushing for 148 yards and one score.
Though Watson has career totals of 17,904 passing yards and 123 touchdowns, the Browns face a tough decision as they evaluate their quarterback options for the future.
The Cleveland Browns said earlier this week that quarterback Deshaun Watson had a setback in his recovery. It turns out it is much worse than that.
The veteran quarterback rolled his ankle while rehabbing at his home in Miami and re-ruptured the Achilles. This has required a second surgery and now his entire 2025 season is in jeopardy.
“Yesterday, Deshaun Watson underwent a second surgery to repair his right Achilles tendon rupture. Watson initially tore the tendon during the Browns’ Week 7 game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 20. His first surgery was performed on Oct. 25. Earlier this week, when Watson reported to CrossCountry Mortgage Campus for his exit physical as part of the Browns’ season-ending process, he complained of discomfort after rolling his ankle in Miami. MRI results demonstrated a re-rupture to his Achilles tendon. Dr. Bob Anderson, a foot and ankle specialist in Charlotte, NC, performed both surgeries. Watson’s recovery time and return to play status is uncertain, and he will likely miss significant time during the 2025 season.”
If Deshaun Watson cannot play in 2025, the Browns have almost the entirety of his 2025 salary insured to give themselves some relief
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.
After rupturing his Achilles this season against the Cincinnati Bengals, quarterback Deshaun Watson has suffered a setback in his recovery plan.
Speaking to the media today, general manager Andrew Berry stated that Watson let the team know that his recovery was not going as planned. Berry did not state any timeframe for his return to the field but didn’t confirm that Watson would be ready to play in 2025 either. More surgery is potentially on the table.
Berry also confirmed that the quarterback room would be undergoing a significant overhaul as the Browns struggled to find offensive success with four different starting quarterbacks for the second straight season.
Given his lack of success on the field and now the injuries mounting for Watson, it would not be a shock if he has played his last snap as a member of the Cleveland Browns. It would not be a shock if Watson ever played another NFL again after what has transpired over the last four years.
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