The Texans have locked up quarterback Deshaun Watson through 2025. Mark Berman of FOX 26 News reports (via Twitter) that the Pro Bowler has signed a four-year extension that’s worth $39MM annually. The deal also includes a $27MM signing bonus. The deal will be tacked on to the two remaining years of Watson’s current contract. ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that the deal is worth a total of $177.54MM with nearly $111MM in guaranteed money.
Watson’s contract comes almost exactly two months after Patrick Mahomes signed his monster extension with the Chiefs. Mahomes still paces the position with an AAV of $45MM, but Watson’s $39MM AAV now ranks second above the likes of Russell Wilson ($35MM), Ben Roethlisberger ($34MM), Aaron Rodgers ($33.5MM), and Jared Goff ($33.5MM).
Of course, it’s not particularly surprising that Watson was able to garner such a deal. Since being selected with the 12th-overall pick in the 2017 draft, the Clemson product has emerged as one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the NFL. Despite tearing his ACL during his rookie campaign, Watson has managed to appear in 31 of the Texans’ 32 regular season games. Over that span, the 24-year-old has completed 67.8-percent of his passes for an average of 4008.5 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and 10.5 interceptions per season. He’s also continued to be dynamic running the ball, as he’s averaged 482 rushing yards and six scores per season between 2018 and 2019.
Perhaps most importantly, Watson has led the Texans to a 21-10 regular-season record over the past two seasons. Following a disappointing playoff loss to the Colts in 2018, the quarterback earned his first career postseason victory by beating the Bills in the 2019 Wild Card Round. He lost to the eventual champs in the second round, but he still tossed two touchdowns and scored another on the ground.
We learned earlier this week that the Texans were pushing to extend Watson prior to the start of the season, although negotiations were described as “not close.” Watson had made it clear that he wasn’t seeking a deal that was similar in length to Mahomes’ contract. One report indicated that the quarterback wanted a three-year deal, and there were rumblings that he was seeking around $40MM per year.
With Watson signing his new deal, we can now turn our extension-focused eyes to a pair of other signal callers. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson should both be in line for lucrative deals, especially following the recent quarterback extensions.
Congrats D Watson, well earned. Texans have the best QB in the AFC South. Watson, Minshew, Tannehill or Rivers. I’d roll with DW as well.
$40 million per year is a lot for Watson
Yep, dude hasn’t won anything and is getting paid like he has a ring. The way the NFL is responding to social issues I’m sure being black helped his bank account a bit.
If that’s not the most stupid comment idk what is rhino
Agree
He has BOB as his coach. God himself wouldn’t get a ring with him as a coach. Stop using rings for an argument in a team sport.
He just had the first even vaguely competent offensive line of his career, the defense was mediocre, and he has a so-so coach doing lord knows what as GM. You think the lack of ring is his fault? Better than paying a QB for winning a ring in his best season with every advantage like Flacco and expecting him to ever be worth it again.
Oh, and that racial comment is wildly inane, even for a comments section.
Oof hit the nail on the head. BoB comes up with decent offensive schemes, but overall is a slightly above average coach due to his poor management of players and strategic decisions during games. Other than that, he is an obviously incompetent GM who makes poor excuses for poorer decisions. O’Brien, both as a coach and as a GM, makes football decisions based on his personal feelings, which is a huge impediment to Watson or any other Texan winning a championship.
Watson has earned a good deal, but between this and Tunsil’s wildly mismanaged acquisition (which was pricey cap-wise and draft-pick-wise), the Texans will be hard pressed to put a strong supporting cast around Watson, especially given O’Brien’s reported interest in extending J.J. Watt as well.
No way this guy is worth more than Wilson. Never had 30 TDS in one season yet.
Wilson’s contract was signed over a year ago and Watson wanted to reset the market. He’s already a top-five quarterback and still in his prime throughout the duration of his contract. If the Texans wanted to retain him, they needed to pay up. Otherwise, another team would’ve been willing to oblige. You’re worth the price dictated by the market
Holy balls. The QB money is getting out of control.
Wait til you see what the owners make without ever having to develop a skill or get injured.
Watson is great but wow that’s a lot of money.
Massive overpay but houston gon houston
Cowboys drafting QB next year.
Number two highest paid QB is right where he belongs IMO. Solid QB so far and his future looks brighter than those being paid less. Can’t blame the player for moves by HQ.
HC actually.
This guy is massively overrated lol. 39 million a year Hahahaha texans aren’t winning anything.
It’s true.
The Texans haven’t won anything since 1988 either.
…was that comment supposed to say “Dodgers”?
It’s interesting how you went back to 14 years before the Texans ever played a single game… care to tell us about how bad you were at life for 14 years before you were born?