The Cleveland Browns gave QB Deshaun Watson one of the most unprecedented contracts in NFL history ahead of the 2022 season, and the former Texans signal caller has only suited up in 12 games since then.
Watson played in just six games last season, missing time with two separate shoulder injuries. He had season-ending shoulder surgery on November 21 and has been rehabbing ever since.
Watson expects to be on the field for training camp and most of the Browns’ offseason workouts.
“Probably another four to five weeks on the front end,” Watson said at the end of January. “And then for sure another three weeks after that. So between the three-to-four month range is where we start throwing … so I would say probably April. Hopefully, if everything goes all well I’ll be able to do spring. We’ll see when we get closer to that.”
Deshaun Watson has passed for 2,217 yards, 14 touchdowns and 9 interceptions for the Cleveland Browns.
Browns GM Andrew Berry was recently asked about his feelings about Watson moving forward.
“We feel good about Deshaun,” Berry said. “I think the biggest thing is just him staying on the field, keeping (him) on the field. Each year, we really do try and do as much self-assessment as possible on every area of the operation. So in good years and bad years, (we) will probably always tinker somewhere to some degree with what we think is best. But in terms of just Deshaun in particular, we’re excited. We just want to make sure he’s healthy.”
Due to the $230 million fully guaranteed contract, Cleveland is in a tough spot when it comes to finding cap room to add talent to the roster.
Cleveland Browns Expected To Make Significant Move Regarding Deshaun Watson
Watson recently expressed his desire for the team to bring in another dynamic WR to pair with Amari Cooper and ad to his arsenal of weapons.
He made a public pitch to pending Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins. Watson doubled down on his push for Higgins — and any high-caliber receiver — on the latest edition of his “QB Unplugged” show with Quincy Avery.
“Of course I want Tee. S**t, I want all the top receivers if I can,” Watson said on the show, which went live on February 2. “But at the end of the day, I’m just throwing a little nugget out there. Who knows what’s going to happen? I don’t control that or free agency, who we bring in.”
Shortly after making that statement, Deshaun Watson expressed confidence in Berry’s long-term planning when it comes to the Cleveland Browns future.
“All this is all planned. If you really listen to Andrew Berry, he’s telling you the gameplan, the blueprint,” Watson said. “We’re straight, we know exactly what we’re doing for the next five years.”
One of the significant moves the Browns can make this offseason is restructuring Watson’s contract. He’s set to count $63.9 million against the cap in each of the next three seasons. Cleveland could create around $33 million in cap space by restructuring Watson’s contract.
It’s on the table but Berry is not ready to talk about it just yet.
“I’ll be honest, I’m not there yet,” Berry told Zac Jackson of The Athletic. “It’s not a necessity (to lower that), but it just kind of depends on how we put the plan together.”
If the Cleveland Browns plan on adding any top-tier talent to assist Deshaun Watson on offense or add to a defensive unit that’s strong, but could use another play maker, Berry is going to have to find a way to restructure Watsons deal to free up cap space.
