It looks like 2026 is the more likely year for Watson to be cut. The Browns would absorb $73 million in dead money but would avoid losing cap space. Regardless, though, it’s going to cost the Browns when they finally do dump Watson.

So, if Watson did not re-injure the Achilles while rehabbing or doing any sort of team-condoned football activity, then Watson could forfeit his guarantees. This would allow the Browns to cut him immediately with no losses or dead money outside of the prorated bonuses they have already restructured over the past two seasons.

The Cleveland Browns will be without quarterback Deshaun Watson for the foreseeable future, including significant time in the 2025 season. The controversial Watson suffered a second rupture of his right Achilles tendon and had surgery to fix the issue.