The Browns converted $44.745M of Deshaun Watson's 2025 salary into signing bonus, creating $35.79M of cap space. It's the third consecutive salary conversion for Watson's albatross of a contract, pushing future cap hits (and voidable dead cap) into historic tiers.

New Cap Hits (corresponding dead cap)
2025: $36.9M ($172.3M)
2026: $81.6M ($135.4M)
2027: $53.7M (void)

Cleveland is now salary cap compliant for 2025, currently holding $12.8M of Top 51 space. Will the Browns be willing to take on $135.4M of dead cap ($46M cash) next offseason to move on from Deshaun Watson? Even as a Post 6/1 move, the numbers would be historic