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This summer, speculation about a potential contract extension for Deshaun Watson has bubbled and bounced in every direction. From subtweeting Drake lyrics after DeAndre Hopkins was traded (was Watson indicating he didn’t want to re-sign with the Texans after they traded his fellow Clemson Tiger?) to him reportedly insisting upon a short term contract (was it a case of Watson wanting a way out during his prime if the Texans didn’t show they could get over the hump?), to whether Watson would get more than Russell Wilson but less than Patrick Mahomes’ mammoth deal, to today, things have been all over the place.
Today, however, the journey comes to an end. Deshaun Watson and your Houston Texans have come to an agreement on a new contract.
The #Texans and @DeshaunWatson reached an agreement on a 4-year extension that averages $39 million a year with a $27 million signing bonus. This is in addition to the 2 years he has left on his original contract. So he’s tied to the team for 6 years.
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) September 5, 2020
Texans have agreed on a 4-year extension with Deshaun Watson averaging $39 million a year with a $27 million signing bonus. Details to come on on https://t.co/mIDjcbdCLC
— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) September 5, 2020
Sources: The #Texans and franchise QB Deshaun Watson have agreed to terms on a huge new extension worth $160M over 4 new years. Houston locks up its QB through 2025 – and Watson gets paid... with a chance to get paid again soon.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 5, 2020
Texans’ QB Deshaun Watson will make $39 million per year in base salary, on average, over the next four years, making him the highest-paid player in the NFL during that time frame.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 5, 2020
After all of the debate, Watson and Houston have agreed to a four-year contract that averages $39 million a year and includes a $27 million signing bonus; with the two years left on his rookie contract, that means Watson will be in Houston until at least 2025, which will be his age 30 season.
Watson, like fellow 2017 draftee Mahomes, is now locked into the franchise that drafted him. Watson can now focus on replicating the success Mahomes has had with the Chiefs in Kansas City by bringing a Lombardi Trophy to Houston. The Texans and their franchise quarterback will celebrate the contract extension by playing the Chiefs on Thursday night to kick off the NFL’s 2020 regular season.
UPDATE: Deshaun Watson has issued the following statement about his new contract:
— Deshaun Watson (@deshaunwatson) September 5, 2020