How much money would Deshaun Watson end up losing if he were suspended for the entire 2022 NFL season?

Deshaun Watson has reported to mandatory minicamp and has been working out with the Cleveland Browns to build chemistry should he be cleared to play for the 2022-23 season.

The quarterback's preseason has been clouded by 24 lawsuits of sexual misconduct filed against him. The NFL has launched its own investigation and could hand down a severe punishment. Some have speculated that the quarterback could be suspended for the entirety of the 2022-23 season.

How much money can he expect to lose should that happen? According to reports, it will be a relatively small amount. It appears the contract was worked out in the former Texan’s favor. Watson’s $45 million signing bonus cannot be withheld from suspension. Therefore, the quarterback would only lose out on his first-year salary, which totals $1 million.

Even if the Browns chose to ignore the possibility of a suspension, Watson's agent clearly saw it on the horizon, structuring the contract to mitigate any potential damage.

Deshaun Watson may not see the field in 2022

Though a grand jury cleared the $230 million man of any criminal charges, the pending civil lawsuits have been the biggest focus of the offseason. He insists that he did nothing wrong, claiming the massage sessions were totally consensual and that no extra money was exchanged.

The Browns, meanwhile, are still looking to offload Baker Mayfield, even if it means picking up some of the money he’d be owed. Mayfield was excused from Browns practice after he made it clear that he was not happy with the team’s pursuit of a new starting QB.

If Watson is suspended and Mayfield isn’t an option, the Browns will start third-string option Jacoby Brissett or newly acquired quarterback Joshua Dobbs. The move to acquire Watson could cost the Cleveland Browns a trip to the Super Bowl.

This would be a big hit for the team, especially after making the former Texan the highest-paid NFL player in history.