Browns to Retain Watson Through 2026 Season

The Cleveland Browns plan to retain quarterback Deshaun Watson on their roster for the 2026 season, despite his ongoing recovery from injury and the team's dismal performance this year. The decision, driven by the financial constraints of his massive contract, ensures Watson remains part of the organization through the final year of his deal, according to reports from ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Watson, acquired by the Browns in a 2022 trade from the Houston Texans, signed a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million extension shortly after arriving. The contract runs through 2026, with $46 million guaranteed for next season alone. Releasing him before June 1 would incur a dead cap hit of approximately $131 million to $135 million, while a post-June 1 release would still cost over $80 million. Trading him after that date might reduce the penalty to around $35 million, but finding a suitor for a player who has appeared in only 19 games since 2020 remains unlikely. These economics make retention the most practical path forward, even as owner Jimmy Haslam has acknowledged the acquisition as a significant misstep.

Watson has not played this season after...