- Signed
- 2017
- Average / year
- $3.46M
- Signing bonus
- $8.22M
- Guarantee rate
- 100.0%
$13,854,281 in reported contract value across 4 seasons, including $13,854,281 guaranteed at signing and a $8,215,841 signing bonus.
Capologist / NFL contract file
Cleveland Browns
Cleveland BrownsDeshaun Watson Contract
Deshaun Watson signed a five-year, $230 million contract with the Cleveland Browns. The deal includes $230 million guaranteed. It carries a $40.23 million cap hit in 2026.
Contract record last updated .
5-year contract$230M
- Guaranteed
- $230M
- Average / year
- $46M
- Free agency
- 2027 UFA
Quarterback #4Age 3010 NFL seasons6' 3" / 223 lbsClemson
CLEQB / 4
2026 contract ledger
Select a label for a plain-language definition.
| 2026 | $1,300,000 | $8,197,954 | $46,010,880 | $0 | $40,227,962 |
|---|
Cap hit: The total amount charged against the team salary cap for this league year.
View full accounting breakdown13 contract fields
| Year | Base salary | Signing proration | Option bonus | Option proration | Roster bonus | Per-game bonus | Workout bonus | Available incentives | Cap incentives | Guaranteed salary | Cash due | Cap hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026contract | $1,300,000 | $8,197,954 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $10,880 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $46,010,880 | $40,227,962 |
Cap equation · 2026
BASE $1,300,000 + SIGNING $8,197,954 + OPTION PRORATION $0 + ROSTER $0 + PER-GAME $0 + WORKOUT $10,880 + CAP INCENTIVES $0 + ADJUSTMENT $30,719,128=$40,227,962Career cash flow
Earned through 2025Hatched bars are scheduled, not yet earnedSwipe across seasons →
$46.02M$23.01M$0
HOU2017–2021CLE2022–2026BaseSigningRosterRestructureOptionOther earnedBonus mixNew dealScheduled
CASH · 2026=
BASE $1,300,000 + SIGNING $0 + ROSTER $44,700,000 + RESTRUCTURE $0 + OPTION $0 + WORKOUT $10,880 + EARNED INCENTIVES $0$46,010,880Annual career ledger
Swipe for annual and career totals →
| Season | Salary | Bonuses and cash adjustments | Potential | Cash totals | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Age | Team | Base salary | Signing | Roster | Restructure | Option | Workout | Incentives paid | Other cash | Available | Annual cash | Career cash |
| 2017NEW DEAL | 22 | HOU | $403,054 | $8,215,841 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $8,618,895 | $8,618,895 |
| 2018 | 23 | HOU | $1,094,740 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,094,740 | $9,713,635 |
| 2019 | 24 | HOU | $862,231 | $0 | $0 | $862,249 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,724,480 | $11,438,115 |
| 2020NEW DEAL | 25 | HOU | $1,177,123 | $27,000,000 | $0 | $1,177,123 | $0 | $0 | $63,117 | $0 | $0 | $29,417,363 | $40,855,478 |
| 2021 | 26 | HOU | $10,540,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $10,540,000 | $51,395,478 |
| 2022NEW DEAL | 27 | CLE | $402,500 | $44,965,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $6,785 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $45,374,285 | $96,769,763 |
| 2023 | 28 | CLE | $1,080,000 | $0 | $44,920,000 | $0 | $0 | $7,080 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $46,007,080 | $142,776,843 |
| 2024 | 29 | CLE | $1,210,000 | $0 | $44,790,000 | $0 | $0 | $8,190 | $15,763 | $0 | $0 | $46,023,953 | $188,800,796 |
| 2025 | 30 | CLE | $1,255,000 | $0 | $44,745,000 | $0 | $0 | $7,245 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $46,007,245 | $234,808,041 |
| 2026SCHEDULED | 31 | CLE | $1,300,000 | $0 | $44,700,000 | $0 | $0 | $10,880 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $46,010,880 | $280,818,921 |
| Career totals | $19,324,648 | $80,180,841 | $179,155,000 | $2,039,372 | $0 | $40,180 | $78,880 | $0 | $0 | $280,818,921 | $280,818,921 | ||
Contract history
3 reported agreements · guarantees at signing
- 20172017
- 20202020
- Signed
- 2020
- Average / year
- $39M
- Signing bonus
- $27M
- Guarantee rate
- 47.3%
$156,000,000 in reported contract value across 4 seasons, including $73,717,123 guaranteed at signing and a $27,000,000 signing bonus.
- 20222022
- Signed
- 2022
- Average / year
- $46M
- Signing bonus
- $44.97M
- Guarantee rate
- 100.0%
$230,000,000 in reported contract value across 5 seasons, including $230,000,000 guaranteed at signing and a $44,965,000 signing bonus.