The Browns have restructured Deshaun Watson's contract to get the team cap compliant ahead of the new league year and make enough room to complete the trade for Texans tackle Tytus Howard. 

The Browns were $17.1 million over the cap before the restructure freed up $36 million by paying Watson the league minimum in 2026, with a signing bonus of nearly $44.8 million. Watson was scheduled to count a record-high $80.7 million against the cap this season after the last restructure in 2025, the third on his original, fully guaranteed five-year, $230-million contract.

The Browns are also reported to be working a restructure on cornerback Denzel Ward's contract ($30.5 million cap hit in 2026) with the 2027 season the last on his existing deal, as well as explore other restructures.

My take: How does Andrew Barry still have a job? This is dumb. How long are they going to kick the Watson can down the road? They should have just eaten the Watson cap hit this season and been done with him. Now he'll be gone next season (free agent) but carry a $51 million dead cap and a $35-million dead cap in 2028. They're now restructuring Ward, who was about to get the last of his guaranteed money in his deal this year, his age 29 season — getting old for a corner. They now have to keep him in 2027, to get production out of what was going to be a $29 million cap hit, but will now increase by fifty percent of whatever his signing bonus is on the restructure and carry dead cap in 2028, when he's likely gone from the team.