Deshaun Watson, QB (CLE)

Restructure clears up cap space

The Browns restructured Watson's contract Thursday by converting $44.8 million of his base salary into a signing bonus, freeing up $35.8 million in cap space, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports

Watson's restructure could be positioning Cleveland for impending roster moves, as the team now has a NFL-leading $62 million in available salary cap space. Meanwhile, Watson still carries a tremendous $72.9 million salary cap hit for the Browns in both 2025 and 2026. Now heading into his age-29 season, Watson is coming off a quiet preseason in which he was held out of exhibition action and received regular rest days while working his way back from offseason shoulder surgery. The team's Week 1 regular-season opener against the Cowboys will represent Watson's first game action since last November.

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Saturday starter TBD

Coach Todd Monken noted Monday that he hasn't decided whether Watson or Shedeur Sanders will start Saturday's preseason opener against the Bears, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

Preseason opener starter TBD

Coach Todd Monken noted Monday that he hasn't decided whether Sanders or Deshaun Watson will start Saturday's preseason opener against the Bears, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.