The 3-10 Browns reportedly plan to run it back next year, including a return for injured quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Watson, who is out for the season with an Achilles injury, is expected back, as are head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry, according to CBS Sports.
Stefanski, the 2023 NFL Coach of the Year after leading Cleveland to a surprise playoff berth, and Berry both received contract extensions earlier this year. Team owner Jimmy Haslam already indicated at the recent ownership meetings that they’d be back.
The 29-year-old Watson is signed for two more seasons for $92 million guaranteed with a whopping cap hit of $72.9 million in each season. Releasing him would result in a staggering $172 million in dead cap hits for 2025.
The Browns surrendered six draft picks, including three first-rounders, to obtain the quarterback from the Texans in 2022 before signing him to a fully guaranteed $230 million deal.
Earlier this month, the NFL announced it had concluded its investigation into the latest alleged sexual assault allegations against Watson, and that no formal action would be taken by the league.
He previously had been suspended by the NFL for the first 11 games of the 2022 season after 24 civil lawsuits were filed while with the Texans from women claiming he committed sexual assault and misconduct during massage sessions in 2020 and 2021.
Watson denied those allegations, and grand juries ruled there was not sufficient evidence to criminally charge him.
The three-time Pro Bowler has appeared in only 19 games with a passer rating of 80.7 over his first three seasons with the Browns, including seven appearances this year before he was injured in October.
Watson also underwent season-ending shoulder surgery last season. Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco led the Browns to the playoffs, where they lost in the AFC wild-card round to the Texans.
Despite their 3-10 mark, the Browns entered Sunday’s game against the Chiefs in the No.8 position in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, according to Tankathon.
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