Deshaun Watson ruptured his achilles tendon for a second time in 90 days earlier this month. He underwent another surgery to repair the same injury on Thursday and may not be able to return in time for the 2025 NFL season.
Should that happen, the Cleveland Browns will recover millions of dollars on his absurdly expensive contract. It will actually save them money if their quarterback is unable to get back on the field.
General manager Andrew Berry indicated a setback in Watson’s recovery on Monday but he did not disclose the extent of the issue. Ian Rapoport reported on Friday that it was indeed another tear. This new injury comes just three months after Watson suffered the original tear. His career might be over.
Although it is far too early to tell whether the 29-year-old will ever play another game in the NFL, it is not too early to speculate on next season. The chances that he can join the team for training camp are slim to none. The odds of a return at any point in 2025 are low.
That might be a good thing for the Browns. They are contractually obligated to pay Deshaun Watson a guaranteed sum of $92 million over the next two years— whether he plays or not.
The organization might prefer that he does not.
Cleveland insured a large portion of Watson’s monster contract so it will recover a good chunk of money. According to Kalyn Kahler of ESPN, approximately 50% of the league’s 32 teams have an insurance policy on their most expensive contract.
It’s usually the teams that get absolutely steamrolled into overpaying a player [that buy insurance], and so it’s like [the front-office’s] saving grace to try to present it to ownership. It’s like, “We’ll get your money back if he gets hurt.”
— Ex-salary cap executive, via ESPN
13 of the 14 most expensive quarterback contracts in the NFL are insured. Watson’s absurdly expensive, full-guaranteed deal with Cleveland is one of them. Thank goodness!
Deshaun Watson’s contract is insured.
NFL organizations are not required to file their insurance policies to the NFLPA or the league office, so there is no way to know exactly how much this premium might cost or what a payout might look like. However, Kahler reported in September that $58,176,466 of Watson’s 2024/25 compensation is insured.
It is about the same for next year. The Browns have $44.3 million of Watson’s 2025/26 salary insured for injury. They will receive major financial relief if he cannot play due to the re-torn, re-ruptured Achilles.
In a sick, twisted way, that might be the best outcome for a franchise in disarray. Cleveland can turn the page toward the future and essentially move on from Deshaun Watson without paying him a single penny out of pocket for next season. All of the money he is owed would be recovered through insurance.
This little-known, but highly-utilized insurance loophole is proving to be an extremely worthwhile gamble. The Browns will forever be ridiculed for its decision to trade for Watson and sign him to a record deal but the financial damage would be a lot worse without the injury policy.
The post Cleveland Browns Will Actually Save Millions Of Dollars If Deshaun Watson Cannot Play In 2025 appeared first on BroBible.
Cleveland Browns Will Actually Save Millions Of Dollars If Deshaun Watson Cannot Play In 2025
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