Browns restructure Watson's contract again.

[Auggie]

The Browns have restructured Watson’s contract for the fifth time after signing him to a five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million contract in 2022. Watson will have a base salary of $1,255,000 in the season ahead, but he will still be paid $46 million with all but the base salary being converted to bonus money that can be spread out through 2029.

Watson’s 2025 salary cap charge was $73 million before the restructuring. He has a base salary of $46 million for 2026 — the final year of his original contract. Because of all the restructuring and pushing back bonuses, Watson will account for $80,585,000 in dead cap money after 2026, even if he isn’t on the roster.

https://www.news-herald.com/2025/03/06/browns-restructure-watsons-contract-to-create-12-5-million-of-salary-cap-room/

The Browns are now $12,555,650 under the cap -- possibly enough to sign QBs Cousins or Flacco and a few others.

Watson: worst trade of all time.

[True Dough]

1. Five years

five times restructured. What is wrong with this picture? The answer: Deshaun!

[Auggie]

2. I'll counter with Andrew Berry, GM ...

or Jimmy & Dee Haslam, franchise owners

Dee is the one who claimed Watson had been vetted and declared his innocence.

[Prof. Toru Tanaka]

3. I wonder if that one Browns fan

still has that Tim Couch jersey with the list attached of all of the QBs that have played for Cleveland after Couch.

That list is probably all the way to the ground and dragging behind the jersey wearer by now.

[Auggie]

4. He dismantled it

Read about it a few years ago. He said the point had been made.

[Prof. Toru Tanaka]

5. I looked up the story about the jersey just now.

It appears the owner stopped the count after the Cavaliers won the NBA title in 2016.

That was a pretty imaginative idea, though.

[Auggie]

6. Indeed. There's a wikipedia page, though not as imaginative:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Cleveland_Browns_starting_quarterbacks

I count 38 since 1999.

[True Dough]

7. Finally!

The answer to your prayers, Auggie.


B/R Gridiron
@brgridiron

TRADE: Browns trading for Super Bowl Champion QB Kenny Pickett, per
@RapSheet

Eagles are getting Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-round pick.

[Auggie]

8. Yeah, but what about my 49ers?

Nightmare City.

Browns can now draft an impact rusher to complement Garrett.

[True Dough]

9. Hey, you seem to be a two-team kinda guy

49ers/Browns

Guardians/Giants

Sometimes one will be up, maybe the other down. You can't have it all!

[Auggie]

10. I had it all 4 times: Cavs vs Golden State

Came close in 1989-90 (Browns/49ers) and 2016 (Tribe vs Giants).

[True Dough]

11. And which team were you rooting for in each of those championship games/series?

Don't give me the "I was happy either way" responses! I want to know in your heart of hearts, which team did you want to see prevail more?

[Auggie]

12. Well ...

I really wanted Cleveland to win and end the city championship drought.

But I was very happy the Warriors won three out of four. G.S. management had built a special team that was, and still is, incredibly fun to watch.

When the 49ers and Browns play I'm all 49ers. The 49ers seem to always have a shot at the playoffs. The Browns don't. And Jimmy Haslam is a bad guy.

[True Dough]

13. As of now,

what's your expectation for the 49ers and the Browns' records for the upcoming season? I'm thinking they're going to be similar to last year.

[Auggie]

14. Too early. Ask me in August.

But I'll surmise both will improve. Both teams are clearing out the underperforming.

[True Dough]

15. This will make you feel so much better, Auggie!

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Cleveland Browns co-owner Jimmy Haslam on Monday called the team's trade for quarterback Deshaun Watson a "big swing-and-miss."

In March 2022, Cleveland acquired Watson from the Houston Texans in a trade package that included three first-round picks. The Browns then signed Watson to a $230 million contract that was fully guaranteed.

Since joining the Browns, Watson has started just 19 games because of suspension and injuries, posted one of the lowest Total QBRs in the NFL and suffered consecutive season-ending injuries in 2023 and 2024.

"We took a big swing-and-miss with Deshaun," Haslam said Monday at the league's annual meeting. "We thought we had the quarterback; we didn't. And we gave up a lot of draft picks to get him, so we've got to dig ourselves out of that hole.

"... [The trade] was an entire organization decision and it ends with Dee [Haslam] and I, so hold us accountable."

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/44479689/browns-co-owner-admits-big-swing-miss-deshaun-watson

[Auggie]

16. That must make Watson feel good

He'll have the opportunity screw up again if he drafts Sanders.

Thanks for sharing.