In a surprising twist, Mike Florio has sparked speculation about a potential trade involving Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland Browns. While the idea may seem far-fetched, it's worth delving into the numbers to see if such a trade is even feasible. Let's take a closer look.

Watson's current contract is best viewed in terms of cash rather than salary cap numbers. The guaranteed money for three years, amounting to $46 million each year, poses a significant hurdle for any team considering a trade. After all, would any team deem it wise to take on this financial burden based solely on Watson's performance in the past two seasons?

However, there is a possible scenario where a team pays Watson $23 million per year for the next three years, with the Browns covering the remaining amount. This would require the Browns to rework Watson's deal and provide an additional $69 million in cash this season, reducing his future cash payments to $23 million annually. It's essential to note that Watson would have no incentive to take a pay cut, considering his current value.

Now, let's analyze Watson's current contract from a salary cap perspective:

Moving forward, let's consider the new deal structure:

If the trade were to happen after this weekend's games, the acquiring team would assume the fully guaranteed money:

2023 - Additionally, $575,000 in salary cap space could be created, which could be utilized to add another player to the roster.

However, the projected salary cap for 2024 is around $256 million, making it highly challenging for a team to manage Watson's current deal in that year.

Considering the numbers, it becomes clear that a trade involving Watson is unlikely unless he takes a substantial pay cut or a team is willing to take on his contract without the Browns assuming any additional financial responsibility.

If the Browns were to trade Watson without changing his current deal, the acquiring team would be responsible for three years of $46 million, while the Browns would have a manageable dead cap of $62,915,000 in 2024.

Realistically, the most the Browns would be willing to absorb in the contract is $6 million per year over the next three seasons, resulting in a 2024 dead cap of $80,915,000.

In such a trade scenario, the focus would be on clearing salary cap space rather than the compensation received, similar to the Brock Osweiler deal in the past.

While the idea of a Deshaun Watson trade remains speculative, considering the intricate salary cap numbers makes it evident that any potential deal would require careful financial maneuvering. Only time will tell if these calculations hold weight in the realm of NFL trades.