The news that Deshaun Watson, who once faced more than 20 accusations of sexual misconduct and what an NFL investigation would label as "predatory behavior," would be the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback (for now) was hardly surprising.
It's not a great look for Shedeur Sanders, who may well only be biding his time until he gets to take over. The decision also kind of, sort of feels like a slap in the face to Browns fans. Watson tried to earn some goodwill back with the Browns faithful after being named the starter, but the damage is probably done.
There's only so much you can apologize for or walk back.
When it comes to "walking back," so to speak, that's probably what the Browns wish they could've done with Watson's contract years ago. But here he is, several years later, after playing like one of the NFL's worst quarterbacks for most of his tenure in Cleveland, still featured on his fully guaranteed contract. The good news for the Browns is that they don't have much time left with Watson on their roster.
Per Spotrac, the 2026 season is the last year of Watson's deal. He will incur an almost $41 million salary cap hit this season, then the Browns can officially (finally?) opt out before committing even more time to him. Of course, the Browns could always wind up re-signing Watson, particularly if he plays well in 2026. But, well, at the moment, that doesn't feel particularly likely, now does it?
Rest easy, Browns fan. Your time with Watson as your favorite team's starting quarterback is likely coming to an end in the coming months.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: How much money do Browns still owe Deshaun Watson?
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