Could Browns afford to move on from Deshaun Watson this offseason?

Bill Barnwell of ESPN explained how the Cleveland Browns theoretically could move on from quarterback Deshaun Watson this offseason even though Cleveland signed Watson to a fully guaranteed five-year, $230M contract after the club acquired him from the Houston Texans in March 2022. 

"He is owed $138M over the next three seasons, all of which is guaranteed, but the structure of his contract would make him movable," Barnwell wrote about Watson. "The Browns can't cut him, but if they found a trade partner, they would owe $62.9M in dead money, which is essentially what they'll owe for him to be on the roster next season. Their cap would be clear of Watson in 2025, and while they would be down three first-round picks from a disastrous deal, they would be able to move forward without a player accused of more than two dozen cases of sexual misconduct on their roster."

Watson appeared in just six games during the 2022 season after he missed the campaign's first 11 contests while serving a suspension related to the previously-mentioned accusations made against him even though two grand juries declined to indict the 28-year-old. He then was a mixed bag across six games this past season before he was shut down because of a shoulder injury in November. 

In total, Watson officially went 5-1 as a starter during the 2023 regular season and completed 61.4% of 171 total passes for 1,115 yards with seven touchdowns and four interceptions. He also contributed 142 rushing yards and a score on 26 carries. Meanwhile, veteran Joe Flacco became a local hero among Cleveland fans as he went 4-1 across five starts to help the 11-6 Browns earn a postseason berth. 

Flacco tossed a pair of costly pick-sixes in this past Saturday's 45-14 wild-card playoff loss at the Texans. 

"While there's no way the Browns would be able to expect a significant return for Watson after two disappointing seasons, would they find another team willing to accept the responsibility of his deal for the cost of a conditional seventh-round pick? I would say no, but I've learned never to underestimate how desperate teams can talk themselves into quarterbacks," Barnwell added.

For what it's worth, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski indicated on Sunday that Watson will be the club's QB1 for Week 1 this coming September. However, it does appear Cleveland could escape Watson's contract sooner rather than later if the team found just one willing buyer interested in acquiring the three-time Pro Bowl selection.