Deshaun Watson has a 5-year contract worth $230 million with the Cleveland Browns.
Derrick Deshaun Watson, simply known as Deshaun Watson is an American football quarterback for the Cleveland Browns as of the 2024 NFL season. The Houston Texans selected him with the 12th overall pick in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Watson, who had led the Texans to two divisional titles and two playoff appearances since getting the nod as a starter back in 2017, was benched for a full season in 2021 by the Texans due to his requesting trade and his off-field issues. In a blockbuster trade at the time, the Cleveland Browns acquired the rights of Watson by sending 3-first round picks to Houston. However, since joining the Browns in 2022, the 3-time pro bowler has only managed to start 19 games in three seasons (as of November 2024), mainly due to him being unable to stay healthy. In those 19 games, Watson has a 9-10 record. Watson tore his Achilles in the week 7 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2024 NFL season, which will see him miss the remainder of the season. The 2021 NFL passing leader attended Gainesville High School in his hometown, where he set numerous state records like total yards, total touchdowns, career passing yards, and career passing touchdowns. Following his high school career, Watson committed to Clemson. During his three-year collegiate career, Watson went on to win several accolades, which include being a CFP national champion, CFP National Championship Offensive MVP, two-time ACC Athlete of the Year, two-time Manning Award honoree, and 2015 ACC Player of the Year. The 29-year-old (as of November 2024) also led the NFL in passing yards in 2020.
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Deshaun Watson Contract Breakdown
Watson signed a 5 year, $230,000,000 contract with the Cleveland Browns, including a $44,965,000 signing bonus, $230,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $46,000,000 as per Spotrac.
| Year | Contract Terms | Signing Bonus | Average Salary | GTD at Sign | Total GTD |
| 2022-2026 | 5 yr(s) / $230,000,000 | $44,965,000 | $46,000,000 | $230,000,000 | $230,000,000 |
| Year | Base Salary | Signing Proration | Cap Hit | Dead Cap | Yearly Cash |
| 2022 | $402,500 | $8,993,000 | $9,395,500 | $229,367,500 | $45,367,500 |
| 2023 | $1,080,000 | $8,993,000 | $19,057,000 | $220,057,000 | $46,000,000 |
| 2024 | $1,210,000 | $8,790,678 | $27,942,678 | $200,712,678 | $46,000,000 |
| 2025 | $46,000,000 | $8,993,000 | $72,935,000 | $172,770,000 | $46,000,000 |
| 2026 | $46,000,000 | $8,993,000 | $72,935,000 | $99,835,000 | $46,000,000 |
| 2027 | $26,900,000 | $26,900,000 |
What are the terms of Deshaun Watson’s contract?
Deshaun Watson signed a 5 year, $230,000,000 contract with the Cleveland Browns, which included a $44,965,000 signing bonus. His signing proration is spread over five years at around $8.9 million annually with $8.7 million in 2024 (via Spotrac).
What is Deshaun Watson's salary?
Watson will earn an average annual salary of $46,000,000. In 2024, he will earn a base salary of $1.2 million, while carrying a cap hit of $27.9 million and a dead cap value of $200.7 million (via Spotrac).
How much does Deshaun Watson make per minute?
Deshaun Watson is set to make around $87 per minute in his five-year contract with the Cleveland Browns.
How much of Deshaun Watson’s Contract is guaranteed?
Deshaun Watson has his whole contract worth $230 million fully guaranteed (via Spotrac).
What is Deshaun Watson’s Career Earnings?
According to Spotrac, Deshaun Watson has earned $188.7 million in his career as of November 2024
Deshaun Watson Contract History
| Year | Contract | Signing Bonus | Average Salary | GTD at Sign | Total GTD |
| 2017 - 2020 | 4 yr(s) / $13,854,281 | $8,215,841 | $3,463,570 | $13,854,281 | $13,854,281 |
| 2020 - 2026 | 4 yr(s) / $156,000,000 | $27,000,000 | $39,000,000 | $73,717,123 | $110,717,123 |
ALSO READ: Deshaun Watson’s Net Worth and Salary
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FAQ's on Deshaun Watson
A. Deshaun Watson is 29 years old as of November 2024.
A. Deshaun Watson tore his Achilles against the Cincinnati Bengals in a week 7 matchup of the 2024 NFL season.
A. Deshaun Watson plays for the Cleveland Browns as of November 2024.
