The Browns paid a lot of money for quarterback Deshaun Watson to come to Cleveland before the 2022 season. However, since arriving in Ohio, he has spent more time off the field than on, and that trend is going to continue in the back half of the 2023 season.
Cleveland announced Wednesday morning that Watson would undergo surgery to repair a broken bone in his right (throwing) shoulder. He is going to miss the remainder of the 2023 campaign.
Watson's 2023 season has been marred by injuries. He first hurt his rotator cuff in Week 3 and missed two starts before trying to come back in Week 7 against the Colts. The QB was hurt again during that game and proceeded to miss the Week 8 game against the Seahawks.
Watson, 28, ends this season with six starts for the Browns in 2023. During that time, Watson completed 61.4 percent of his passes for 1,115 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions.
The Browns are going to operate with P.J. Walker and Dorion Thompson-Robinson under center for the remainder of the season. At 6-3, Cleveland is right in the thick of a hotly contested AFC North division, while also currently in a wild-card spot in the AFC.
MORE: Deshaun Watson to miss remainder of 2023 season with shoulder injury
While Watson won't suit up again for the Browns this year, that does not mean they are off the hook for paying him. Here is a refresher on Watson's contract and how much money he is fully guaranteed.
Deshaun Watson contract details
Watson signed a five-year, $230 million contract in the 2022 offseason. The deal included a $44.965 million signing bonus and all $230 million fully guaranteed, the highest amount of guaranteed money of any player in NFL history.
With the deal, Watson has an average base salary of $46 million per year, making him one of the highest-paid QBs in the league.
How much money has Deshaun Watson made with the Browns?
Since signing with Cleveland before the 2022 season, Watson has been unable to stay on the field. He made just six starts in the 2022 season as a result of his 11-game suspension, and with the news of his season-ending shoulder surgery, he will have started only six games in 2023.
In those 12 starts, Watson holds a record of 8-4 for the Browns. However, the more jaw-dropping stat is that Watson has been paid just over $91 million during that time. That's roughly $7.5 million a start.
In two seasons, Deshaun Watson has started 12 games for the Browns. They're 8-4 in those starts, which is nice. But they have paid him $91 million and change for those eight wins.
— Dale Lolley (@dlolley_pgh) November 15, 2023
Highest-paid NFL quarterbacks in 2023
Watson's contract gives him the most guaranteed money out of any quarterback in the league, but he is not the highest-paid one by average annual value.
That honor belongs to Bengals QB Joe Burrow, whose new deal that he signed on the night of the NFL's 2023 season-opener makes him $55 million a year. He is one of five quarterbacks to make more than $50 million a season, joining the Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes, the Chargers' Justin Herbert, the Ravens' Lamar Jackson and the Eagles' Jalen Hurts.
MORE: NFL's 25 highest-paid players in 2023, from Aaron Rodgers to Patrick Mahomes
Watson comes in at No. 8 on the highest-paid QB list by AAV, as his annual hit of $46 million is just behind the Broncos' Russell Wilson ($48.5 million) and the Cardinals' Kyler Murray ($46.1 million).
| Rank | Player | AAV |
| 1 | Joe Burrow | $55 million |
| 2 | Patrick Mahomes | $52.65 million |
| 3 | Justin Herbert | $52.5 million |
| 4 | Lamar Jackson | $52 million |
| 5 | Jalen Hurts | $51 million |
| 6 | Russell Wilson | $48.5 million |
| 7 | Kyler Murray | $46.1 million |
| 8 | Deshaun Watson | $46 million |
| 9 | Josh Allen | $43 million |
| 10 | Dak Prescott | $40 million |
| Daniel Jones | $40 million | |
| Matthew Stafford | $40 million |
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