Houston Texans head coach Bill O’Brien would like to see Deshaun Watson play with them for many years.
When asked Friday about his star quarterback’s contract, O’Brien did not give reporters any major points beyond the hope that Watson will remain with the Texans for the long term.
“We’re not going to communicate about media contracts,” he said. “We would love to have Deshaun here for a long time. He’s here, he’s excited and we’re excited about the season.”
Bill O’Brien, in Zoom w/media, asked about a possible new contract to @deshaunwatson: “We’re running hard. We’re not going to communicate about it in the media. We are so attached to him and his long career in this crime, in this organization. We’ve been looking for him here for a long time https://t.co/ycFxl8z2sC
Watson still has two years left on his rookie contract, the two-time Pro Bowler eligible to signal an extension this off-season.
Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reported in May that the Watson deal is the Most Sensible Precedence of the Texas after signing an offensive version of Laremy Tunsil for overtime.
Wilson said a new contract for Watson “could be $40 million to $42 million guaranteed” according to the season.
Appearing on The Rich Eisen Show last month, Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk reported that Watson and “is likely to get” a three-year extension.
Through Over the Cap, an average salary of between $40 million and $42 million would make Watson the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs ($45 million).
If Watson gets the extension he wants this offseason, that would also allow him to become a free agent after the 2024 season. He will only be 29 years old at that point and potentially in line for another lucrative contract.
The Texans decided on Watson with the 12th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft after swapping two first-round picks with the Cleveland Browns to advance. Clemson’s alumnus has established himself as one of the league’s quarterbacks with 9,716 yards, 71 scores and a 66.8 finishing touch percentage in 38 career games.
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