The Cleveland Browns took a significant financial step on Friday by restructuring quarterback Deshaun Watson’s contract, cutting his enormous $80.7 million salary cap hit and freeing roughly $36 million in salary cap space. This financial move comes ahead of the 2026 free agency period, scheduled to begin next week, helping the team manage its budget more flexibly.
General Manager Andrew Berry had already outlined this as a priority in the offseason, recognizing that the Browns could not afford to carry the NFL’s largest cap hit attributing to a single player into the new league year. Though the Watson restructure addresses one major issue, the Browns still face further financial adjustments to boost their roster-building capacity.
Denzel Ward Likely to Be Next Candidate for Contract Restructuring
With Watson’s salary cap charge reduced, the Browns’ attention is turning to cornerback Denzel Ward, who currently holds the team’s second-largest 2026 salary cap hit at $32.9 million. Despite rumors suggesting Ward might be a salary casualty, multiple reports confirm he remains a key part of Cleveland’s defensive plans.
According to ESPN reporter Daniel Oyefusi, the team is expected to pursue a similar restructure with Ward, potentially freeing up an additional $13.5 million in cap space. This mirrors the Browns’ ongoing strategy of converting salary portions into bonuses spread over multiple years to create immediate cap relief.
“A restructure to Denzel Ward’s contract is also expected to come soon, per source,” Oyefusi wrote. “The Browns have frequently restructured contracts, converting salaries to bonuses and spreading out the charges to free immediate cap space. GM Andrew Berry said the Browns will have ample cap space this offseason.”
Financial Strategy Behind Browns’ Cap Moves and Future Planning
The restructuring of Watson’s contract enables the Browns to meet salary cap requirements, and a Ward restructuring could further solidify the team’s ability to pursue key free agents. Positions likely targeted include interior offensive line, wide receiver, tight end, defensive back, and linebacker, areas where Cleveland seeks impactful talent additions.
This approach is consistent with the team’s methods throughout Andrew Berry’s tenure as GM. Although the Browns’ owner, Jimmy Haslam, has invested more real cash into player salaries than any other NFL owner over the past five years, the salary cap remains a complex puzzle. The team’s willingness to take on dead cap hits in future seasons, particularly with Watson’s $34.6 million hit in 2027 and $51.5 million in 2028, demonstrates a strategic acceptance of short-term financial pressure to build a competitive roster now.
Ward is also expected to carry some dead cap charges in future seasons, but to a lesser degree. Despite concerns from some quarters about the team’s future cap flexibility, projections indicate the Browns could have approximately $100 million in cap space by 2027. The steadily increasing NFL salary cap should allow Cleveland to manage these large future charges prudently while still pursuing roster improvements.
Trade-Offs from Watson Acquisition and Its Impact on Browns’ Roster Moves
When Cleveland acquired Watson in 2022, it gave up three first-round draft picks—moves that have arguably constrained the team more than Watson’s $230 million contract. Nevertheless, the deal has not prevented the Browns from extending cornerback Denzel Ward or star defensive end Myles Garrett in recent years, showcasing their commitment to key players despite cap challenges.
The contract restructuring marks an initial but vital step toward fiscal balance. The anticipated Ward restructure will clarify how aggressively Cleveland can approach free agency during the opening week, potentially pushing to add players like Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum to shore up the interior offensive line, a position of strategic importance for the team’s evolving identity under new offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
Addressing Watson’s contract sets a foundation for the Browns as they enter a pivotal offseason. The forthcoming financial moves around Ward and other contracts will heavily influence how the roster takes shape and how the Browns plan to compete in the coming years.
This moves frees up close to $36 million in cap space. A restructure to Denzel Ward's contract is also expected to come soon, per source. The Browns have frequently restructured contracts, converting salaries to bonuses and spreading out the charges to free immediate cap space.… https://t.co/028atU7Buu
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) March 6, 2026
