Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans
Getty
Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns looks on from the field before a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Deshaun Watson is poised to vie for the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback job in 2026, potentially setting the stage for his 20th game with the franchise since the Houston Texans traded him, and the first since the 2024 season.
Watson has spent the past year-plus rehabbing from a re-ruptured Achilles tendon that he suffered in January 2025.
He has been consistent in his work, and it could be set to pay off.
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Deshaun Watson, Houston
GettyDeshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns walks across the field before a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Watson is 9-10 in his games as the Browns’ starter, a winning percentage (.473) that is well below his 28-25 (.528) mark with the Texans. His tenure with the Browns was already set to continue, with his five-year, $230 million contract running through 2026.
In fact, with general manager Andrew Berry already saying he anticipated Watson to be on the roster in 2026, the Browns decided to commit to Watson even longer in a sense.
Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot reported the team has restructured Watson’s contract.
“#Browns are restructuring Deshaun Watson’s contract today to lower his $80.716M cap charge in time to become compliant for the start of the league year,” Cabot posted on X on March 6, citing sources with knowledge of the situation. “It gives the Browns flexibility to sign free agents.”
“The #Browns will convert a huge chunk of Deshaun Watson’s $46 million base salary — up to $44.745M — into a restructure bonus to free up roughly $36M in cap space.”
On Saturday, Watson posted, “Just Work.” as the caption for a new workout video on Instagram.
It featured comments from UFC president and CEO Dana White, boxing legend Mike Tyson, and Formula 1 star Lewis Hamilton, all regarding operating in a state of disbelief in the face of doubts from the outside.
The Browns’ decision means Watson will be on their books through the 2030 season.
Watson has signing bonuses of $34.7 million in 2027, $25.7 million in 2028, $16.9 million in 2029, and $8.9 million in 2030. He has cap hits of $36 million in 2027 and $51.5 million in 2028, but there are no hits in 2029 or 2030.
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Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans
GettyDeshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns on the sideline during a game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Browns have restructured Watson’s contract, which was widely criticized at inception, multiple times over the past two seasons.
There are significant ramifications, according to Spotrac’s Michael Ginnitti.
“Long story short, Watson will remain on the books through 2026, and Cleveland will designate him a Post 6/1 release prior to that 3rd league day, thus spreading the leftover salary cap across 2027 & 2028. For now, that amounts to $50.4M in total,” Ginnitti wrote in December.
“But if Cleveland processes another salary conversion for 2026, that final dead cap figure will increase. Let’s assume the Browns process a full salary conversion on the 2026 salary, lowering Watson’s cap hit from $80.7M, down to $44.9M ($35.76M saved in 2026). This would result in $86.2M of dead cap now residing in 2027. A Post 6/1 Designation that March would leave behind dead cap hits of $34.6M for 2027, & $51.54M for 2028.”
This time, though, the Browns could also get something out of Watson on the football field during the 2026 season.
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Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans
GettyDeshaun Watson #4 of the Houston Texans reacts during a preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings.
Watson has completed 61.2% of his passes for 3,365 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions with the Browns. That is, again, a striking step down from his 14,539-104-36 line on 67.8% completion as the Texans’ QB1.
Despite that, Watson could be primed to compete for the starting job in the spring and, really, the summer in training camp.
Browns offensive coordinator Travis Switzer made it clear where he stands on Watson.
“We’re excited about Deshaun,” Switzer told reporters on March 4. “Anytime you have a guy who has had the success that he’s had, he’s got to be part of the equation as far as when we talk about competing for that job.”
Switzer was also complimentary of Watson’s teammates, 2025 draft picks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Still, his comments on the former Texans Pro Bowler fit a theme.
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Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans
GettyDeshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns looks on before a game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Watson seemed at odds with former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, for whom he last took the field, but the ex-Texans star drew plenty of praise from at least one old coach.
Former Browns QB coach Bill Musgrave spoke glowingly about Watson. Specifically, Musgrave praised Watson’s work with Gabriel and Sanders during practices, in meetings, and on the sidelines during games.
Watson, who turns 31 in September, also has a fan in new Browns head coach Todd Monken.
Monken noted in February that Watson “at one time was a Pro Bowl player, and an elite player in this league. We would love to tap back into that.”