Deshaun Watson contract: How much cap hit will teams incur to sign Texans star?
Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson is expected to be on the move this offseason.
There are reports that teams are seeking his services despite the looming threat of the quarterback being reprimanded and suspended by the NFL for breaching their code of conduct.
The quarterback will not only bring negative press but also a hefty price tag. Teams looking to trade for the 26-year-old quarterback will have to take on the following cap hit if they land him:
2022: $35M salary, $35M cap hit
2023: $20M salary, $17M roster bonus, $37M cap hit
2024: $32M salary, $32M cap hit
2025: $32M salary, $32M cap hit
Deshaun Watson’s contract would be as such for a team acquiring him in a trade:
2022: $35M salary, $35M cap hit
2023: $20M salary, $17M roster bonus, $37M cap hit
2024: $32M salary, $32M cap hit
2025: $32M salary, $32M cap hit
Watson signed a four-year, $156 million dollar contract extension with Houston in September 2020. The contract includes a $27 million dollar signing bonus, $110,717,123 guaranteed, and an average yearly salary of $39 million.
The quarterback will earn a base salary of $35 million, while carrying a cap hit of $40.4 million and a dead cap value of $51.2 million.
He was by the drafted by the Texans in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft and has started 53 games with the team.
The quarterback finished third in the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year race in 2017 behind then-Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt and the winner, running back Alvin Kamara of the New Orleans Saints.
During the 2018 season, the former Clemson Tiger was the most sacked quarterback in the league as he was taken down 62 times. It is tied for the fifth-most in NFL history in a season.
In the 2020 season, he threw for a league-leading 4,823 yards with 33 touchdown passes. Watson’s 14,539 passing yards and 104 touchdowns are the second-most in franchise history behind Matt Schaub.
Which Teams are in the Watson Sweepstakes?
The Carolina Panthers seem to have the greatest interest in the quarterback. They also tried to land him last offseason but abandoned the idea, courtesy of Watson's legal woes.
Ultimately, sources predict Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks to be the top contenders for Deshaun Watson in prospective trade. Importance of no-trade clause in his $156 million contract can't be overstated enough. Fluid situation on destination of three-time Pro Bowl passer
The other team is the Seattle Seahawks. The team just traded their star signal-caller Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos.
The #Seahawks and #Panthers are expected to be the big players for #Texans Deshaun Watson. https://t.co/RlWgRx07Kp
In addition, franchises like the Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns, and the Philadelphia Eagles are seen in the hunt for Watson as well. We'll find out this offseason where he’ll be starting come the 2022 season.