How did the Browns afford Watson?

The Cleveland Browns afforded Deshaun Watson by giving him an unprecedented, fully guaranteed $230 million, five-year contract in 2022, a move requiring them to sacrifice significant draft capital (three first-round picks) and leverage creative financial structures like signing bonuses and salary proration to fit his massive deal under the salary cap, despite controversy and the high-stakes gamble on his talent over his legal issues.

How much money do the Browns owe Watson?

The Cleveland Browns still owe Deshaun Watson $92 million fully guaranteed over the 2025 and 2026 seasons, with $46 million in cash due in 2025 and another $46 million in 2026, following contract restructures that spread out his massive salary cap hits, creating huge financial implications if they cut him or if he plays out the contract. He has a record-setting ~$80.7 million cap hit in 2026, and cutting him would result in huge dead cap charges.
 

Did Browns have insurance on Watson?

Given the insurance policy the Browns have on Watson's deal, they are expected to have over $24 million of it insured and returned to their 2026 salary cap. Watson is expected back on the roster in 2026 for one last year as the Browns continue to creatively work around the problem of his contract.

How did the Browns acquire Watson?

The Browns decided to trade three first-round picks, a third-round pick and two fourth-round picks to the Houston Texans for Watson, and subsequently gave him the biggest guaranteed contract in NFL history.

Who is funding the new Browns stadium?

The $600 million in unclaimed funds is the state's contribution to the Browns stadium development project, which also includes $300 million from Brook Park. The rest of the $2.4 billion for the project, which plans to include housing and retail, is to be paid by Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam.

Can the Browns afford to take a "BEST PLAYER AVAILABLE" strategy in the 2026 NFL Draft?

Are taxpayers paying for the Browns stadium?

Yes, taxpayers are paying for a significant portion of the new Cleveland Browns stadium in Brook Park, with the state of Ohio contributing $600 million from unclaimed funds and Brook Park adding $300 million from local taxes, while the Haslam ownership covers the rest of the $2.4 billion project, plus development, with the team responsible for construction overruns.
 

How did the Haslam family make their money?

From the Editor

James Haslam II founded Pilot Travel Centers in 1958 and merged the company with Flying J in 2001. James' sons Jimmy and Bill Haslam took over ownership of the company after their father retired.

Why are the Browns keeping Watson?

For most people who don't know, if the Browns cut or trade Watson, they would immediately take a $135 million salary cap hit. That is the only reason he is still on the team.

Who is responsible for Deshaun Watson's trade?

The Browns infamously traded three first-round draft picks to acquire Watson from the Houston Texans in 2022, even as the quarterback faced dozens of civil lawsuits alleging serial sexual misconduct, then instantly gave him more guaranteed money than any player in the history of the NFL up to that point.

How did the Browns restructure the Watson contract?

"The Browns performed their annual restructuring of QB Deshaun Watson's contract, converting $44.745 million of his salary into a signing bonus. The move reduced Watson's 2025 cap figure by $35.796 and increased his 2026 and 2027 cap figures by $8.949 million each season.

How much will Shedeur Sanders make with the Browns?

Shedeur Sanders signed a 4-year, $4.6 million rookie contract with the Cleveland Browns after being drafted in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, including a signing bonus, placing him on a standard rookie salary scale for his draft position, making him one of the league's lower-paid starting quarterbacks when he took over the starting role in late 2025. His deal breaks down to roughly $1.1 million average salary, with specific annual cash amounts varying slightly year-to-year, per Spotrac.com and Over the Cap.
 

Can Browns get out of the Watson deal?

If the Browns were to cut Watson before June 1, they would incur an NFL-record dead cap charge of $131 million. If Cleveland released Watson with a post-June 1 designation, the dead cap would be split into $80 million in 2026 and the remaining $50 million in 2027.

Who is the highest paid QB in the NFL?

The highest-paid QB in the NFL by average annual salary is Dak Prescott, earning $60 million per year, with other top earners including Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Trevor Lawrence, and Jordan Love all around $55 million annually as of late 2025. While Prescott leads in annual pay, Josh Allen holds the record for most guaranteed money in his extension, and Patrick Mahomes has the largest overall contract value in NFL history.
 

What is the most financially successful NFL team?

The Dallas Cowboys, valued at $14.1 billion in 2024, has been the NFL's most valuable franchise since 2007 and the most valuable sports franchise in the world since 2016.

Can the Browns void Watson's contract?

Yes, the Cleveland Browns can potentially void parts of Deshaun Watson's fully guaranteed contract, primarily if he violated specific terms like failing to follow team-approved rehab protocols (e.g., not wearing a boot after surgery), engaging in high-risk activities (motorcycles, skydiving), or due to undisclosed misconduct before signing, but it's legally complex and might have reputation/cap consequences, requiring proof of irresponsibility, Sports Illustrated. 

How much is Eli Manning worth in 2025?

Eli Manning's net worth is estimated to be around $180 million in 2025, growing from his lucrative NFL career with the Giants, major endorsement deals (Gatorade, Nike, Toyota), television appearances, and other business ventures, though some sources place it slightly lower, around $160 million. He was the highest-earning player in the NFL at his retirement in 2020, accumulating over $250 million in career earnings alone.
 

Do Browns have to pay Watson if he is injured?

Yes, the Browns still have to pay Deshaun Watson due to his fully guaranteed contract, but they have an insurance policy that provides significant salary cap relief and potential cash if he misses time due to injury, like his recent Achilles tear. The insurance covers a large portion of his salary (around $44 million for 2025), and if he misses the entire 2025 season, the team receives a large cap credit in 2026, effectively softening the financial blow of his huge contract, notes Yahoo Sports and USA Today. 

Who owns Browns?

The Cleveland Browns are owned by Jimmy and Dee Haslam, who purchased the team in 2012 and are the managing and principal partners, investing in the team's resources and working to restore championship football in Cleveland.
 

Why did Texans trade Watson?

The Houston Texans traded Deshaun Watson due to a combination of his trade demand stemming from dissatisfaction with the team's front office, unresolved sexual misconduct allegations, and the organization's desire to rebuild after years of losing and management changes. After Watson requested a trade in early 2021 and sat out the 2021 season, the team eventually sent him to the Cleveland Browns in March 2022 for a significant haul of draft picks, allowing both sides to move forward. 

What would happen if the Browns cut Watson?

If the Browns cut Deshaun Watson, they would face massive dead cap charges, making it financially disastrous in the short term, potentially costing over $100 million in one year if done before June 1st. While possible after the 2025 season (with a large post-June 1st charge in 2026/2027), the high financial penalty for a player still under contract means he's likely to remain on the roster, with the team managing the cap hit through restructures or waiting until 2026 or later to move on, using insurance or voided years to mitigate the cost over time.
 

Is a Watson contract legally binding?

The $230 million contract Watson signed in 2022 is generally guaranteed, but as Sports Illustrated reported, the Browns have the authority to terminate the contract for serious misconduct occurring off the field.

Who will be Browns' QB in 2025?

The Cleveland Browns' 2025 quarterback situation was a mix of veterans and rookies, with Joe Flacco starting early in the season before Shedeur Sanders, a rookie, took over as the primary starter for the latter half of the year, with fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel also getting significant snaps. While Deshaun Watson was on the roster, he was sidelined, and veteran Kenny Pickett was also on the team but injured early. 

Who is richer, Vanderbilt or Rothschild?

The Rothschilds were significantly richer and more powerful globally than the Vanderbilts, with the Rothschilds often being the wealthiest family in the world for much of the 19th century, while the Vanderbilts were the richest American family, their fortunes dwarfed by the Rothschilds' international banking empire, though both were Gilded Age titans. Estimates place the Rothschilds' wealth (adjusted for today's money) potentially over $300 billion to trillions, whereas Vanderbilt wealth peaked around $185 billion equivalent, showing the Rothschilds' massive lead. 

Who is the wealthiest NFL owner?

The richest NFL owner is Rob Walton, heir to the Walmart fortune, who leads the Walton-Penner family ownership group of the Denver Broncos, with a net worth estimated well over $100 billion, dwarfing other owners and making him the wealthiest in the league by a significant margin.
 

Who is the #1 richest family?

The Walton family, heirs to the Walmart fortune, is consistently ranked as the world's richest family, with a net worth exceeding $500 billion in recent analyses, thanks to their massive stake in the retail giant. Other incredibly wealthy families include the royal families of the UAE (Al Nahyan) and Saudi Arabia (Al Saud), along with dynasties like the Mars family (confectionery) and the Arnaults (LVMH).