“We thought we had the quarterback, we didn’t and we gave up a lot of draft picks to get him. So we’ve got to dig ourselves out of that hole. (It) was an entire organization decision and it ends with Dee and I, so hold us accountable,” Haslam continued. How we’re supposed to be holding an NFL owner accountable aside, we’ve heard all offseason that the Browns would likely never let Watson play another meaningful snap. The owner talking about Watson in the past tense is truly confirmation that this is over. Cleveland would roll out Kenny Pickett as their starter if the season started tomorrow, but thankfully for them, it doesn’t.

It’s the second time the Browns have restructured Watson’s deal since December. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Browns will owe Watson a minimum salary in 2025 and $46 million in 2026, which would satisfy the remaining money on his deal. Watson ruptured his Achilles in Week 7 of last season and ruptured it again in January while rehabbing. It seems increasingly unlikely that Watson will ever play again for the Browns after a disastrous first three seasons, as the team appears more than ready to move on from him.

Watson re-tore his Achilles in January and is expected to miss “significant time” next season. What Watson was doing at the time of his injury was of interest to the Browns, as anything outside the scope of his rehab and recovery may have created an out for them when it comes to the remaining money on his contract. Watson is owed $92 million in guaranteed money over the next two seasons. There’s a very real chance he never plays another snap for the Browns again. That said, knowing he’ll remain with the team for at least 2025, Berry officially cleared the air of any speculation regarding his second injury, and said Watson is determined to return to the field.

“How far that spans into 2025, I can’t give you a specific right now,” Berry continued, essentially refusing to speculate on Watson’s prospects of playing this coming season. The Browns are probably going to add multiple quarterbacks this offseason and leave Watson in the rear-view mirror. We’d be surprised if he plays a meaningful down for the organization again, as Browns Athletic beat writer Zac Jackson mentioned that as a possibility in January. It’s unlikely Watson would have a clear path back to the Browns starting lineup even if he was cleared from his second Achilles rupture sooner than expected.