Despite rumors to the contrary, the Browns always envisioned a quarterback room of Deshaun Watson, Jameis Winston and Dorian Thompson-Robinson entering this season. (TheLandOnDemand)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Takeaways from Browns practice and interviews …
Prior to the final practice before Labor Day Weekend break, the Browns made quarterback news on two fronts.
1. They were forced to terminate the contract of QB4 Tyler Huntley when a trade market didn’t materialize.
They needed the roster space to bring back D’Onta Foreman, their RB3 and short-yardage back.
2. They did a salary-to-bonus conversion for the third time in three years with Deshaun Watson.
By converting $44.79 million of Watson’s scheduled base salary of $46 million to a cash bonus (which can be pro-rated over the next four years), they created $35.832 million in 2024 cap space. It brought the Browns’ total cap space in 2024 to more than $51 million – most in the NFL.
Now for more details.
Huntley
The Browns pretty much always intended to head into the season with a QB room of 1. Watson, 2. Jameis Winston, and 3. Dorian Thompson-Robinson. At the same time, they were hoping Huntley would have a good preseason, ostensibly to attract trade offers.
Huntley did his part and played well. But teams never believed GM Andrew Berry could keep a surplus of four quarterbacks, and they were right. The last hope for a trade was the Chargers. When they opted to trade with Atlanta for Taylor Heinicke, Berry had to release Huntley to add Foreman to the roster.
At a pre-scheduled media availability with Browns assistant GM Catherine Hickman (nee Raiche), I asked why a Huntley market never developed.
“That’s a great question,” she answered. “I don’t know that I would characterize it the way you characterized in your question. I think our job is to -- and Andrew does a great job of that -- is to really explore all opportunities, and it needs to make sense for all the parties involved, and in some instances, it doesn’t.”
It’s possible Huntley could return to the Browns via the practice squad, if he doesn’t get signed to an active roster.
“I think all options are on the table,” coach Kevin Stefanski said. “We’ll see how it shakes out.”
Watson
Berry and the Browns’ analytics staff is next-level when it comes to proactively managing the salary cap. This move is an example.
Because of recent contract extensions to other players, the Browns already are about $37 million over the projected salary cap for 2025, according to Overthecap.com. That’s without signing any new players.
The Watson conversion enables Berry to create a big chunk of room that ultimately will be rolled into 2025. There will be other contracts that Berry will have to slash or redo, but creating this room with Watson’s contract is a big jumpstart on getting next year’s salary cap under control.
This third conversion of Watson’s $230 million contract increases his salary cap charges in 2025 and 2026 to nearly $73 million each year, and also adds a cap charge of almost $27 million in 2027 – a year after his current contract expires.
Keep in mind this is not new money due to Watson. He’ll continue to receive $46 million in cash or salary in each of the next three seasons. The inflated figures are the result of these conversions and are the charges to the team salary cap.
“I’m not going to go into any details when it comes to players’ contracts,” Hickman commented. “The only thing I’ll say is as an organization, our philosophy is to be aggressive when we think about resource allocation and management, so we always look at all options.”
Aye aye, Captain
Cornerback Denzel Ward was honored as one of five team captains voted by teammates. The others are Charley Hughlett (special teams), Watson and Joel Bitonio (offense) and Myles Garrett (defense).
Ward said it’s the first time in his career he’ll wear the C on his jersey. He wasn’t a captain at Ohio State.
“I feel very proud to be the captain of the team,” he said. “I always felt I was a captain. I always tell the guys you don’t need a C on your chest to lead. Regardless if you get the logo on there or not, I’ll still be myself and try help this team win games and be a captain out there.”
Much of the discussion with Ward then turned to his history of concussions (five), if he’s concerned about the long-term affects, and if he considered retiring.
“I can’t let the receivers off that easy in this league, so I’m looking forward to getting out there and giving them a hard time,” he said.
“This is a game I love, being with the guys. Unless I’m really physically unable to play this game, I don’t see myself stepping aside from football no time soon.”
Ward suffered his fifth concussion at practice on August 12. It took two weeks for him to be cleared to practice and then cleared from protocol. Ward said the advances in understanding the head injury are why he’s not concerned about continuing to play, based on consultation with specialists.
“A lot of the information at the time of those older players is a lot different than the knowledge and information we have now,” he said. “We’re able to treat concussions. Back then, if you got a concussion they were sending you right back in. Now we have a protocol. It gives your brain time to heal. That’s why I’m not concerned.
“Each concussion is its own specific concussion. You have to give it time to heal. Once it’s healed, you’re good. It’s not like concussions are building on top of each other. You give it time to heal. Before, guys would get a concussion and get out there not fully healed.”
One concession Ward is making is changing to a new helmet designed with more protection. It’s not the Guardian cap players are mandated to wear over their helmets at practice.
“I don’t think the helmet I’ve been in has been that great for me physically,” Ward said.
Brownie bits
Stefanski declined to confirm the QB order heading into the season is Watson, Winston and DTR. “Stay tuned,” he said …
The Browns released long snapper Rex Sunahara from the practice squad and added five others: running back Gary Brightwell, cornerback Mike Ford, wide receiver Tulu Griffin, tight end Cameron Latu and tight end Blake Whiteheart …
The players have the Labor Day Weekend off and return Monday for the first practice of the regular season.