Browns general manager Andrew Berry didn't deny the team could restructure the deal while speaking with reporters at the NFL scouting combine on Tuesday.Per
, Watson's current deal is slated to give him a record $54,993,000 salary cap hit over the next four seasons. The contract remains fully guaranteed as well, with him earning a $46 million base salary each year.Watson's contract, as well as the trade that brought him to Cleveland from the Houston Texans amid his sexual misconduct scandal, was already one of the most controversial decisions in NFL history.
After missing 11 games due to his NFL suspension, Watson posted 1,102 passing yards, a 58.2% completion rate, seven passing touchdowns, five interceptions and 6.5 yards per pass attempt in six games, plus 175 rushing yards and one touchdown on the ground. His 79.1 passer rating would have been fifth-worst in the NFL had he qualified, sandwiched between Carson Wentz and Bake Mayfield.
The Browns went 3-3 in Watson's starts, and are now losing the advantage of his relatively low $9.4 million cap hit in the first year of his contract. The team currently sits $13 million above the salary cap threshold. All of that adds up to Watson needing to do a whole lot more with a whole lot less if the Browns want to break through in the AFC North, unless he wants to do the team a favor with his fully guaranteed deal.