-
Current Contract
Deshaun 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. In 2024, Watson will earn a base salary of $46,000,000, while carrying a cap hit of $63,977,000 and a dead cap value of $200,915,000.Contract: 5 yr(s) / $230,000,000 Signing Bonus $44,965,000 Average Salary $46,000,000 Total Guarantees $230,000,000 Guaranteed at Signing $230,000,000 Free Agent: 2027 / UFA Bonus Breakdown Cap Details Cash Details Year Age Base Salary Signing Restructure Cap Hit Dead Cap Yearly Cash Cash AAV 2022 27 $402,500 $8,993,000 - $9,395,500 $229,367,500 $45,367,500($45,367,500) $45,367,500 Pre-6/1 Release 2022 Dead Cap: $229,367,500 2022 Cap Savings: $-219,972,000 Pre-6/1 Trade 2022 Dead Cap: $44,965,000 2022 Cap Savings: $-35,569,500 Post-6/1 Release 2022 Dead Cap: $193,395,500 2023 Dead Cap: $35,972,000 2022 Cap Savings: $-184,000,000 Post-6/1 Trade 2022 Dead Cap: $8,993,000 2023 Dead Cap: $35,972,000 2022 Cap Savings: $402,500 2023 28 $1,080,000 $8,993,000 $8,984,000 $19,057,000 $220,057,000 $46,000,000($91,367,500) $45,683,750 Pre-6/1 Release 2023 Dead Cap: $220,057,000 2023 Cap Savings: $-201,000,000 Pre-6/1 Trade 2023 Dead Cap: $80,892,000 2023 Cap Savings: $-61,835,000 Post-6/1 Release 2023 Dead Cap: $157,142,000 2024 Dead Cap: $62,915,000 2023 Cap Savings: $-138,085,000 Post-6/1 Trade 2023 Dead Cap: $17,977,000 2024 Dead Cap: $62,915,000 2023 Cap Savings: $1,080,000 2024 29 $46,000,000 $8,993,000 $8,984,000 $63,977,000 $200,915,000 $46,000,000($137,367,500) $45,789,167 Pre-6/1 Release 2024 Dead Cap: $200,915,000 2024 Cap Savings: $-136,938,000 Pre-6/1 Trade 2024 Dead Cap: $62,915,000 2024 Cap Savings: $1,062,000 Post-6/1 Release 2024 Dead Cap: $155,977,000 2025 Dead Cap: $44,938,000 2024 Cap Savings: $-92,000,000 Post-6/1 Trade 2024 Dead Cap: $17,977,000 2025 Dead Cap: $44,938,000 2024 Cap Savings: $46,000,000 2025 30 $46,000,000 $8,993,000 $8,984,000 $63,977,000 $136,938,000 $46,000,000($183,367,500) $45,841,875 Pre-6/1 Release 2025 Dead Cap: $136,938,000 2025 Cap Savings: $-72,961,000 Pre-6/1 Trade 2025 Dead Cap: $44,938,000 2025 Cap Savings: $19,039,000 Post-6/1 Release 2025 Dead Cap: $109,977,000 2026 Dead Cap: $26,961,000 2025 Cap Savings: $-46,000,000 Post-6/1 Trade 2025 Dead Cap: $17,977,000 2026 Dead Cap: $26,961,000 2025 Cap Savings: $46,000,000 2026 31 $46,000,000 $8,993,000 $8,984,000 $63,977,000 $72,961,000 $46,000,000($229,367,500) $45,873,500 Pre-6/1 Release 2026 Dead Cap: $72,961,000 2026 Cap Savings: $-8,984,000 Pre-6/1 Trade 2026 Dead Cap: $26,961,000 2026 Cap Savings: $37,016,000 Post-6/1 Release 2026 Dead Cap: $63,977,000 2027 Dead Cap: $8,984,000 2026 Cap Savings: $0 Post-6/1 Trade 2026 Dead Cap: $17,977,000 2027 Dead Cap: $8,984,000 2026 Cap Savings: $46,000,000 2027 32 - - $8,984,000 $8,984,000 $8,984,000 - Pre-6/1 Release 2027 Dead Cap: $8,984,000 2027 Cap Savings: $0 Pre-6/1 Trade 2027 Dead Cap: $8,984,000 2027 Cap Savings: $0 Post-6/1 Release 2027 Dead Cap: $8,984,000 2028 Dead Cap: $0 2027 Cap Savings: $0 Post-6/1 Trade 2027 Dead Cap: $8,984,000 2028 Dead Cap: $0 2027 Cap Savings: $0 2027 33 UFA Contract Notes:- $230M guaranteed (signing bonus + 2022 salary + 2023 salary + 2024 salary + 2025 salary + 2026 salary)
- $44.965M Signing Bonus
- Language exists that will not forfeit signing bonus or void future guarantees upon suspension
- 2022 salary reduced from $1.035M per the 6-game suspension
Contract Source: PFT
Previous Contracts
To see the rest of the Deshaun Watson's contract breakdowns, & gain access to all of Spotrac's Premium tools, sign up today. Already Subscribed? Login Here
2020-2025
Deshaun Watson signed a 4 year, $156,000,000 contract with the Houston Texans, including a $27,000,000 signing bonus, $110,717,123 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $39,000,000. In 2024, Watson will earn a base salary of $46,000,000, while carrying a cap hit of $63,977,000 and a dead cap value of $200,915,000.Contract: 4 yr(s) / $156,000,000 Signing Bonus $27,000,000 Average Salary $39,000,000 Total Guarantees $110,717,123 Guaranteed at Signing $73,717,123 Free Agent: 2026 / UFA 2017-2021Entry Level
Deshaun Watson signed a 4 year, $13,854,281 contract with the Houston Texans, including a $8,215,841 signing bonus, $13,854,281 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $3,463,570. In 2024, Watson will earn a base salary of $46,000,000, while carrying a cap hit of $63,977,000 and a dead cap value of $200,915,000.Contract: 4 yr(s) / $13,854,281 Signing Bonus $8,215,841 Average Salary $3,463,570 Total Guarantees $13,854,281 Guaranteed at Signing $13,854,281 Free Agent: 2022 / UFA -
Estimated Career Earnings
Year Team Awards Salary Signing Bonus Roster Bonus Workout Bonus Restructure Bonus Option Bonus Incentive Earnings 2017 $403,054 $8,215,841 - - - - - $8,618,895 2018 $1,094,740 - - - - - - $1,094,740 2019 $862,231 - $862,249 - - - - $1,724,480 2020 $1,177,123 $27,000,000 $1,177,123 - - - $63,117 $29,417,363 2021 $10,540,000 - - - - - - $10,540,000 2022 $402,500 $44,965,000 - - - - - $45,367,500 2023 $1,080,000 - - - $44,920,000 - - $46,000,000 7 seasons $15,559,648 $80,180,841 $2,039,372 - $44,920,000 - $63,117 $142,762,978 2024 $46,000,000 - - - - - - $46,000,000 2025 $46,000,000 - - - - - - $46,000,000 2026 $46,000,000 - - - - - - $46,000,000 $153,559,648 $80,180,841 $2,039,372 - $44,920,000 - $63,117 $280,762,978 Seasons Team Salary Signing Bonus Roster Bonus Workout Bonus Restructure Bonus Option Bonus Incentive Total Cash 5 seasons $14,077,148 $35,215,841 $2,039,372 - - - $63,117 $51,395,478 2 seasons $1,482,500 $44,965,000 - - $44,920,000 - - $91,367,500 -
Fines
-
09/22/2023, $13,659
Taunting (Gun Celebration)
-
09/22/2023, $10,927
Unsportsmanlike Conduct
-
09/22/2023, $10,927
Unsportsmanlike Conduct
-
08/18/2022, $5,000,000
Conduct detrimental to the league
-
08/01/2022, 11 games, $632,500
Conduct detrimental to the league
-
12/21/2020, $7,500
Conduct detrimental to the league (COVID Protocols)
TOTAL: $5,675,513
-
09/22/2023, $13,659
-
Transactions
Sep 22 2023Fined $10,927 Unsportsmanlike ConductSep 22 2023Fined $10,927 Unsportsmanlike ConductSep 22 2023Fined $13,659 Taunting (Gun Celebration)Mar 13 2023Converted $44.92M of 2023 salary into signing bonus, adding 1 void year, clearing $35.8M of cap with Cleveland (CLE)Aug 18 2022Fined $5,000,000 Conduct detrimental to the leagueAug 1 2022Suspended 11 games for conduct detrimental to the league, forfeiting $632,500 in 2022 salary with Cleveland (CLE)Mar 18 2022Signed a 5 year $230 million contract extension with Cleveland (CLE)Mar 18 2022Traded to Cleveland (CLE) from Houston (HOU) with 2024 6th round pick (#203 - traded) for 2023 1st round pick (#12 - traded), 2022 1st round pick (#13 - traded), 2024 1st round pick (#23 - traded), 2023 3rd round pick (#73 - traded), 2022 4th round pick (#107 Dameon Pierce) and 2024 4th round pick (#123)Dec 21 2020Fined $7,500 Conduct detrimental to the league (COVID Protocols)Sep 5 2020Signed a 4 year $156 million contract extension with Houston (HOU)Apr 27 2020Houston (HOU) exercised a $17.54 million 5th year option for 2021May 12 2017Signed a 4 year $13.85 million contract with Houston (HOU)Apr 27 2017Drafted by Houston (HOU): Round 1 (#12 overall) -
2024 Player Rankings
A visual look at how Deshaun Watson ranks across the league, conference, division, and team.
Cap Hit ($0) Rank NFL: # Cleveland Browns: # Quarterback: #
Total Cash ($0) Rank NFL: # Quarterback: #
Average Annual ($0) Rank NFL: # Quarterback: # -
Statistics
Season Team GA GP GS Snaps Snaps% Pass Att Pass Cmp Pass Cmp% Pass Yds Pass Yds/Gm Pass TD Pass INT Pass Rating Rush Att Rush Yds Rush TD Fum Prod Pts 2023 CLE 6 6 5 383 32.3 171 105 61.4 1115 185.83 7 4 84.32 26 142 1 5 86.8 2022 CLE 6 6 6 387 37.3 170 99 58.2 1102 183.67 7 5 79.09 36 175 1 1 85.58 2021 HOU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2020 HOU 16 16 16 979 99.9 544 382 70.2 4823 301.44 33 7 112.4 90 444 3 8 369.32 2019 HOU 16 15 15 1026 93.7 495 333 67.3 3852 256.80 26 12 97.98 82 413 7 10 319.98 2018 HOU 16 16 16 1093 99.9 505 345 68.3 4165 260.31 26 9 103.11 99 551 5 9 331.7 2017 HOU 7 7 6 464 42.1 204 126 61.8 1699 242.71 19 8 102.96 36 269 2 3 168.86 Totals 67 66 64 4,332 - 2,089 1,390 66.5 16,756 253.88 118 45 - 369 1,994 19 36 1,362.24