Browns Restructure Watson's Contract, Open QB Competition

0:00With the NFL today, March 6th, the Cleveland Browns are restructuring quarterback to Sean Watson's contract to free up more than $35 million in salary cap space. Before the newly year starts next week, this move keeps him on the roster through 2026. The final year of his fully guaranteed $230 million deal from March, 2022. They traded three first round picks to get him from Houston back then, but Watson has only made 19 starts so far. He missed the entire 2025 season, recovering from a twice-torn right Achilles tendon, and has not played since October 2024. Brown's owner Jimmy Hasam admitted last year that the trade was a big swing and a miss. The team already reworked the deal in December by adding void years, and now they face about $90 million in cap hits to Watson after this. Season, which they can spread out using a post-June first designation. Meanwhile, Cleveland has rookie quarterbacks, Shadour Sanders, and Dylan Gabriel on the roster after Sanders started the final seven games of his.

1:042025 rookie year. Coach Todd Monkins sees an open competition coming this spring, though it's unclear if they'll add another veteran. Watson got a practice window in December, but went back on the unable-to-perform list. He's expected to be fully cleared by April for the off-season program, where his 61 percent completion rate and 9 wins and 10 starts will, face real tests. This episode is brought to you in partnership with our sponsor. A pillow that plays your podcast, music, or white noise privately, no earbuds required, S-O-L-I-SoliPillow.com