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ArticleDeshaun Watson’s contract: Browns can release him, but huge salary cap pain in...
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If the Browns cut him today, or anytime during the season, they would then have the following salary cap hits: 2026 $40.9 million 2027 $86.2 million... The two most expensive releases in NFL history both include quarterbacks and still would pale in comparison to the potential $86.2 million dead cap in 2027.
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Watson's $86.2M dead cap in 2027 makes release unlikely despite poor preseason play.

Watson's contract creates massive salary cap constraints for the Browns; if released in 2026, he carries $40.9 million cap hit in 2026 and $86.2 million in 2027—the second-most expensive release in NFL history after Tua Tagovailoa's $55.4 million dead cap. If kept through 2026 and released post-June 1st, the cap hits spread to $40.9M (2026), $36M (2027), and $51.5M (2028), still totaling $127 million. This cap devastation in 2027 would reduce Cleveland's free agency flexibility from $50M+ to essentially zero, making an immediate release unlikely despite Watson's poor performance.

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