Report: Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns agree to terms on contract restructure

The Cleveland Browns and quarterback Deshaun Watson have agreed to terms on a restructured contract, according to NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.

Under the restructured deal, the Browns can spread the cap hit for Watson’s contract at the end of the contract, per Pelissero. The deal is set to expire in 2026.

Pelissero added that it seems likely that Deshaun Watson will remain with the Browns through the 2026 season. However, according to Rapoport, Cleveland is expected to bring in someone to compete with him for the starting job.

Deshaun Watson agreed to a five-year, $230 million deal with the Browns ahead of the 2022 season. The contract is fully guaranteed.

The deal has not worked out well for the Browns thus far. Watson has battled injuries and also missed games for off-the-field issues.

Deshaun Watson is currently recovering from a torn Achilles. During the 2024 season he appeared in seven games, throwing for 1,148 yards, with five touchdowns and three interceptions. The Browns were 1-6 in those seven games.

The Browns are currently 3-12 on the season. Jameis Winston and Dorian Thompson-Robinson have each received starts with Deshaun Watson sidelined, but both QBs have struggled with consistency.

Due to suspension and injuries, Deshaun Watson has only played in 19 total games over the past two years, throwing for just 1,100 passing yards in three consecutive years (2022-2024). From 2018-2020 with the Houston Texans, Watson threw for over 3,800 passing yards in three straight seasons. Two of those years (2018 and 2020) he threw for over 4,000 passing yards, including 4,823 yards in 2020.

Since 2017, Watson has completed 66.2% of his passes for 17,904 passing yards, while tossing in 123 touchdowns and 48 interceptions.

The 29-year-old quarterback was accused of assault and battery in a civil lawsuit that was filed in early September. Attorney Tony Buzbee said that his client would meet with the NFL to discuss that allegation and that he claimed to have “pertinent” video to provide. The lawsuit was ultimately settled in October. Tony Buzbee told the Associated Press that the terms of that settlement were confidential.

Watson served an 11-game suspension in 2022 and was also fined $5 million by the National Football League for violating the personal conduct policy. It was a settlement reached by the NFL and the NFLPA. The punishment was based on allegations from more than two dozen lawsuits filed by women accusing the former Texans star of sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions. He previously had reached settlements with 23 of his accusers and one lawsuit was withdrawn, according to Tony Buzbee, who represents those women.