The Texans may well be striving to have their Pro Bowl quarterback signed by the time they open the NFL season against the Chiefs a week from Thursday. The team and Deshaun Watson are working hard on an extension, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
Watson’s side, however, is not looking to emulate Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs managed to sign their superstar passer through the 2031 season. Watson is barely looking to have his next deal run into the mid-2020s, with Mike Florio of Pro Football talk tweeting the Houston standout wants a three-year deal. With Watson’s rookie contract going through 2021, this would put him under Texans control only through 2024.
It is not certain how close the sides are to making this happen. The parties are not believed to be too close on terms, per ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler (video link). Regarding per-year salary, Watson has been connected to a $40MM-plus-AAV price point. While Mahomes received $45MM per year, it took him committing into the 2030s to do so. Russell Wilson‘s $35MM deal, for normal contract structures, still resides atop the market.
Houston gave Laremy Tunsil a three-year deal, one that tops the market by a monstrous margin. With Watson residing as the Texans’ unquestioned franchise centerpiece, it would seem he could push for the same type of contract. Watson, 24, is on track to make $1.2MM this season on his rookie deal.
Mahomes deal is trash. Not enough in guarantees. Deshaun Watson should go for a Kirk Cousins deal. 100% guaranteed dollars.
Needs something in his contract about not trading away his primary receiver for $5 and a box of envelopes
What about 4 years/$160 million? It gives Watson a chance to reap the benefits of the open market once more in his prime and falls in line with the current annual value for elite signal callers
40M seems a steep price for a guy who hasn’t won much. I get paying the franchise player but the guys who are abode him in pay also have been there. Not even an AFCCG for Watson at this point. I like him, I think he deserves to get paid. I just waffle on the idea of paying him at or above the level of actual super bowl winners.