The dead money charge the Browns will be saddled with if they release Deshaun Watson this offseason, even if they designate him a post-June 1 cut, always made it possible they would retain their embattled passer through the last year of his contract in 2026. Multiple reporters have recently confirmed that is the expectation.
On Thursday, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com said Watson would be on the roster next year, barring an unforeseen development. On Saturday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter echoed that report, and both Cabot and Schefter noted Watson has served as a valuable veteran presence for the Browns’ rookie QBs, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.
Watson, 30, has not appeared in a game since October 20, 2024, when he suffered a torn Achilles. He tore the same Achilles while rehabbing last January and had to undergo surgery shortly thereafter. He has spent the entire 2025 campaign on the PUP list as a result, though the fact that the Browns recently opened his 21-day practice window suggested he could see the field before the season ends.
That still appears unlikely, but Watson will at least get some practice reps to allow head coach Kevin Stefanski & Co. the chance to see him in action. As Cabot notes, that will give the Browns a little more data as they plan for the 2026 draft, at which point they could be selecting a quarterback yet again. Of course, Watson’s performance in practice surely will not dissuade Cleveland from picking a collegiate signal-caller it believes in, but it still needs to know if Watson can operate as at least a bridge to a younger passer.
In the meantime, Sanders will look to keep his name in the mix of 2026 starting options. Unsurprisingly, Sanders will not be penciled in atop next year’s depth chart unless he “lights it up” over the last few games of the current slate. Gabriel, whose Week 11 concussion opened the door for Sanders to take the reins, projects as more of a capable backup at the professional level, and he did not do much in his six starts this year to suggest otherwise.
Though Watson’s salary cap situation is perhaps the primary reason why he is seen as a safe bet to remain with the Browns in 2026, it should be mentioned that the club has an insurance policy on his contract that could result in a hefty payout and corresponding credit to Cleveland’s cap sheet. If the Browns retain Watson, they will again restructure his contract to smooth out his 2026 cap charge of $80.72MM, as Cabot reports. So if Cleveland realizes some cap relief from an insurance payout, it stands to reason the team may consider cutting ties immediately and allow the credit to help offset Watson’s existing dead money hit, thus preventing even more dead money from being added to future void years.
That is merely speculation, but it does add another wrinkle to the Browns’ decision. For now, however, Watson is set to be back in Cleveland next season and could even be the Week 1 starter.