Browns Restructure Contract of Ex-Texans QB DeShaun Watson

The Browns have restructured the contract of former Texans quarterback, DeShaun Watson

Matt Galatzan | Mar 13, 2023

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Houston Texans

According to reports, the Cleveland Browns restructured the contract of former Texans quarterback, DeShaun Watson on Monday.

The move, which has now given the Browns ample flexibility for free agency this offseason, has created $36 million in cap space.

With that said, Watson's massive contract will remain largely the same in terms of pure income, with the quarterback still set to earn every dollar of his massive $230 million contract.

It is called by some teams "flipping a switch.''

Our friend TexasCap terms it more officially, "automatic conversion rights.''

And what does it mean? Simply, that build into the big contracts - and Watson's $230 million fully guaranteed deal with the Browns, put into place last year as a part of his trade from the Texans - are team options to move money.

"Salary'' becomes "bonus,'' which changes the way the player's salary impacts the cap in a given year.

But it changes nothing in terms of the player's actual income - the money is, in a sense, simply being moved from his left pocket to his right pocket.

And the team doesn't have to "ask'' or "negotiate'' or "beg'' the player to allow the money to be moved.

It is done at the discretion of the team, a pre-fab way of creating room down the line.

And now Watson's contract has done just that, giving the Browns room to revamp a mediocre roster, that finished the 2023 season 7-10.

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Published Mar 13, 2023

MATT GALATZAN

Matt Galatzan the Editor-In-Chief of TexansDaily.com. Galatzan graduated from the University of Mississippi, where he studied integrated marketing communications, with minors in journalism and business administration. Galatzan started in the sports journalism industry under Mike Fisher at DallasBasketball.com in 2014, which at the time was part of the 247Sports network. He also spent two years covering the SMU Mustangs for PonyStampede.com on the 247Sports network. When DallasBasketball.com and CowboysCountry.com moved over to Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation network in 2020, Galatzan followed suit, eventually being taking over as the Managing Editor and Publisher of LonghornsCountry.com and AllAggies.com a year later. Through the years, Galatzan has conducted a handful of high-profile one-on-one interviews to add to his resume — in both writing and podcasting. Some of his biggest interviews have been with Mavs owner Mark Cuban, former Longhorns players Dan Neil and Phil Dawson, and many other recruits, and current/former players for each of the teams he has covered. Galatzan is also a full-time employee in the digital media department for Audacy and KRLD FM's 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, which is the official radio home of the Dallas Cowboys. You can find Galatzan on all major social media channels. For any inquiries, please email matt.galatzan@gmail.com