4 Browns most likely to have their contracts restructured this spring

Each and every offseason, there are several teams that find themselves on the wrong side of the salary cap. For years, that wasn't the case with the Cleveland Browns — but they also weren't very good. Now, they're suddenly a competitive team but with that comes a hefty price tag.

As was the case heading into 2023, the Browns are once again projected to be over the salary cap for the upcoming season. As it stands right now, OverTheCap.com has them overspending by just over $19.6 million. That might sound daunting but many teams have overcome much worse and still found a way to not only get under the cap but also find a way to sign a couple of high-priced free agents.

Cleveland should be able to do that with their roster, especially with these four players likely to restructure their deals during the spring.

4. Joel Bitonio, G

In November 2021, the Browns extended starting left guard Joel Bitonio to the tune of $48 million over three seasons. Bitonio, who is the longest-tenured player in Cleveland was praised by the front office for his hard work and dedication. They called him the "personification" of Cleveland Browns football after signing the deal.

Bitonio has continued to thrive, even making his sixth consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl this season. With two years remaining on his extension, Bitonio comes into 2024 with a cap hit of $12.1 million — which is beyond fair for what he brings. Still, the Browns can free up an estimated $4.29 million if they were to restructure his deal.

The only issue there is that Bitonio is already expected to have a cap hit of $15.67 million in 2026 when he's not on the roster. Having said that, Andrew Berry has continued to find ways to stretch out deals and Bitonio could always land another extension, to free up even more space in the short term.

Estimated savings: $4.286 million

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3. Amari Cooper, WR

It's still crazy to think the Cleveland Browns landed Amari Cooper for a mere fifth-round pick. The Dallas Cowboys decided it was time to move on from Cooper and while they were correct in assuming CeeDee Lamb was ready for a larger role, they were incorrect in paying Michael Gallup and shipping off Cooper.

That worked out well for Cleveland as they've seen him haul in 150 receptions for 2,410 yards, with 14 touchdowns. He's not only giving them a No. 1 target but he's also stretching the field with 16.1 yards per catch over the past two seasons — and 17.4 in 2023.

Cooper even set the franchise record for the most yards in a single game when he had 265 yards on 11 receptions in Week 16 against the Houston Texans. As if that wasn't enough, he crossed the 1,000-yard mark on his first catch of that contest, making him the first player in team history to cross that receiving plateau in consecutive seasons.

Now heading into his third season with the team, Cooper has a cap hit of $23.8 million which is second on the roster behind Deshaun Watson. He's also in the final year of his deal, making him a prime candidate for a new deal.

At 30 years of age, he might not get a massive extension but it wouldn't be a shock to see Andrew Berry throw another two years on his deal with a couple of void years as well. OverTheCap.com has his estimated savings above $12.56 million, which would put a huge dent in the team's overage.

Estimated savings: $12.526 million

2. Denzel Ward, CB

Denzel Ward was the fourth overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and was an instant favorite. Cleveland has often shied away from Ohio State players, for some reason, so seeing them take a Buckeye in the top five fired up the Dawg Pound.

Ward didn't wait long to prove he was worth the selection either as he had two interceptions in his NFL debut. That's always a special feeling for a player but it's better when accomplished against a divisional rival such as the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ward was even covering their top receiver, Antonio Brown — and this was before he froze his feet, so he was still elite.

During his fifth season in the league, the Browns rewarded No. 21 for his hard work as they signed him to a five-year extension worth $100.5 million. At the time, this made Ward the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL.

This past season, Ward had arguably the best campaign of his career. He finished with 34 tackles and two picks which weren't earth-shattering numbers, but his play extended far beyond the stat sheet. Ward was lock-down in man coverage all year long, often taking his side of the field away from the opposing team. He made his third trip to the Pro Bowl and even had a one-handed interception during the game.

OverTheCap.com estimates that Cleveland can restructure Ward's deal and save more than $10.6 million. That's a huge chunk of change and it would make a lot of sense to work with him. Unlike Bitonio or Cooper, Ward is still in his mid-20s, meaning they can kick the can down the road while still having him under contract for years to come.

Estimated savings: $10.649 million

1. Deshaun Watson, QB

At this point, this one feels like a no-brainer. Deshaun Watson has an unreal cap hit of $63.977 million and while he and Andrew Berry haven't said anything about restructuring, there's no way the two sides won't do something.

For Watson, it would help in two ways. One, the team would be converting more of his money into a bonus, meaning he would be paid a lump sum. It would also free up space for Cleveland to go out and get him some more weapons, which he has been asking for.

Of course, there will be those who destroy the Browns no matter what they do with Watson's contract. That's been the case ever since he was added in a trade ahead of the 2022 season and signed to a fully guaranteed $235 million deal. At the time, the number seemed astronomical but since then new contracts have come out and suddenly, he's right in line with other starting quarterbacks.

For Watson, the criticism goes far beyond the field. But the truth remains that he needs to figure out how to play with more consistency. This offseason, the Browns made changes to their coaching staff in an attempt to get the most out of Watson. Now, they'll need him to work with them some in order to be able to get the most out of their salary cap this spring. Especially since his estimated savings would be enough to get them under the cap.

Estimated savings: $33.592 million (total of $61.05 million for all four players)

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