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After the Deshan Watson's meltdown in press conference, the question I am getting is why don't they just cut him now and can they afford it. The answer is yes, but it will severely impact the Cleveland Browns 2027 season.
Since we are after June 1st, cutting a player would operate the same way as a Post June 1st cut. His 2026 cost to the team would not change, so the Browns would still have $27m of salary cap space. This will then rollover into next year if they don't spend it during the year. Some will go on the practice squad as well as roster moves as players get injured, so $20m of rollover is a realistic number to work with.
As Watson's contract is currently set, he will be on the roster until 11th March 2027, then a Post June 1st cut for the team, read more about that here along with how a dummy year works. This will mean a $36,008,514 dead cap in 2027 followed by a $51,543,350 dead cap in 2028 per Over The Cap. After 2026, he is costing the Cleveland Browns $0 in cash though, so they can reinvest that money and backload the new deals.
While $36m dead cap is manageable for Watson in 2027, adding the other $51.5m from 2028 into 2027 by cutting him now, certainly changes the equation. Currently they have $49m of cap space for 2027, this is already counting the $36m of dead cap. We add in the $20m of rollover. You are spending $51.5m of the $69m in 2027 cap space they have on Watson. That is going to mean you have very little to spend, maybe you sign your draft picks but that is about it.
Instead you can keep Watson for the 2026 season and spend a significant amount of money in 2027 putting the best possible team around a new quarterback, likely found at the top of the draft. We aren't talking a small sum either, my cash model predicts nearly $200m left of cash to spend in 2027 on draft picks, extensions and free agents. This is on top of the players currently under contract, so cutting Jerry Jeudy adds another $17m to this budget.
Even if Watson and the Browns come up with a compromise where he feigns injury or is buried as the 53rd player on the roster and is a game day inactive, with leave for most the season. It is a better case than throwing the roster on the dumpster fire until 2028 by cutting him now. No one is going to make the case that the 53rd player in important, the Browns just need to find a solution both sides can accept, even making him the scout team safety like the Texans did, then on the 11th of March 2027, everyone can move on.
Also you can't put him on the practice squad, it isn't how it works. To go on the practice squad, you must be cut and then choose to re-sign. Cutting the contract and re-signing someone does not reset the cap, the dead cap would all him as set out above in 2027.
If you enjoyed this article, here are some others by Jack Duffin
2026 Cleveland Browns Roster Prediction
As the offseason goes along I will update my prediction for what the roster will look like come week one.
June: Offensive Prediction - Defensive Prediction - Practice Squad
VIP: Offensive Prediction Post Bears, Defensive Prediction Post Bears
Snap Counts & Quick Takeaways
Chicago Bears (Preseason Game 1) - Buffalo Bills (Preseason Game 2)
Cleveland Browns 2027 Age Guardrails Draft Boards (OBR VIP)
The guardrails examine how Andrew Berry has operated in the past and then project this forward into the next draft class. While he could draft an older player or someone less athletic than they have ever done before, it is a solid starting point for players he is most likely to target.
June - July - August
VIP Bonus Articles
Some VIP articles just don't fit in any of the above categories so I will link them here:
Cash Spending By Position 2020 to 2030 - Breaking Down The Alex Wright Extension - 2026 Stock Up/Down Offensive Players - 2026 Stock Up/Down Defensive Players - Grant Delpit Extension Prediction - Browns 2027 Extension Candidates & Potential Contracts - What Should A Denzel Ward Extension Cost The Browns?
Bonus Articles
Some free read articles just don't fit in any of the above categories so I will link them here:
When Will Deshaun Watson Leave Cleveland - Practice Squad Rules & Cost - Browns Starters From 2016 to 2025 - Dummy Years, Watson & Who Else - How Dead Cap Helps, Not Hinders The Browns - What Has Caused The Browns Improved Drafting - What Does Logan Fano's Guarantees Mean - What The Renegotiated Dawand Jones Contract Means - JOK Insurance & Financial Impact - Financials After Trading Myles Garrett - Browns Can Trade Denzel Ward, But They Shouldn't - How Much Cash Can The Cleveland Browns Spending In 2026 & 2027 - Way Too Early 2027 Browns Roster Prediction - Realistic Deshaun Watson Extension - Revisited: Rookie Year Expectations For The 2025 Draft Picks - Rookie Year Expectations For 2026 Draft Picks (Day One, Day Two & Day Three) - Players Battling To Make the 2026 Roster (Offensive & Defensive) - Salary Cap Update Post Rookies Signing & Garrett Trade - Cleveland Browns Cash Spending Continues To Fall - Five Biggest Weaknesses Heading Into 2026 Season (1 Quarterback, 2 Offensive Line & 3 Young Roster, 4 Coverage Unit & #5 Lack Of Depth) - Deshaun Watson Insurance: What We Know & What We Don't Know - 2027 Free Agents, Who Is Playing For Their Jobs & Future - Browns 2027 Cut Candidates - Proven Performance Escalator: Browns Players Getting A Raise - When, Not If, The Browns Restructure Denzel Ward Contract - Understanding The Browns Spending Philosophy & Why It Is Sustainable - Salary Cap: What Matters, What Doesn't Really Matter - PUP Lists & Failed Physical Designation - Cleveland Browns What If..? (#1 They Lose The Final Two Games Of The 2025 Season, #2 The NFL Correctly Calls The Kansas City 2020 Playoff Game, #3 They Hire Sean McDermott Over Hue Jackson, #4 They Don't Trade For Deshaun Watson & #5 They Go Full John Dorsey) - Browns Only Gave Denzel Ward A Minor Raise, Now Official Numbers Released - Browns Week One Quarterback Odds Don't Match Training Narratives - Grant Delpit Contract Details Confirmed, Less Than Initially Reported - Browns 2026 Storyline Heading Into 2027 (Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, Offensive Line) - 11th March 2027, The Day Watson Gets Cut