Justin Watson

Houston Texans, Wide Receiver
Age: 30y-11m-3d (Apr 04, 1995)
Exp: 8 Years
Country: US
College: Pennsylvania
Drafted: Round 5 (#144 overall), 2018
Agent(s): Joe Linta (JL Sports)
2026 Cap Hit

$2,544,118

2026 Cash

$2,500,000

Career Earnings

$10,756,842

2025-2026 Free Agent (CURRENT)

Justin Watson signed a 2 year, $5,000,000 contract with the Houston Texans, including $500,000 signing bonus, $3,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $2,500,000. In 2026, Watson will earn a base salary of $2,250,000, while carrying a cap hit of $2,544,118 and a dead cap value of $1,000,000.
Contract Terms:
2 yr(s) / $5,000,000
Average Salary:
$2,500,000
Signing Bonus:
$500,000
GTD at Sign:
$3,000,000
Total GTD:
$3,000,000
Free Agent:
2027 / UFA
MANAGE CONTRACT
Year Age Cap HitAnnual Cap % League Cap Cash Annual Cash Cumulative Dead Cap Annual
2025 30 $2,505,985 0.90% $2,300,103 $2,300,103 $3,005,985
2026 31 $2,544,118 0.84% $2,500,000 $4,800,103 $1,000,000
2027 32
UFA
Year Age Base P5 Salary Signing Proration Active/GM Roster Bonus Workout Bonus Incentives Likely Cap Hit Cap % League Dead Cap
2025 30 $1,750,000 $250,000 $250,000 $5,985 $250,000 $2,505,985 0.90% $3,005,985
2026 31 $2,250,000 $250,000 $44,118 - - $2,544,118 0.84% $1,000,000
2027 32
UFA
Year Age Base P5 Salary Signing Bonus Active/Gm Roster Bonus Workout Bonus Cash Total Cash Cumulative Cash Remaining
2025 30 $1,750,000 $500,000 $44,118 $5,985 $2,300,103 $2,300,103 $4,800,103
2026 31 $2,250,000 - $250,000 - $2,500,000 $4,800,103 $2,500,000
Contract Notes
  • $3M guaranteed (signing bonus + 2025 salary + $750,000 of 2026 salary)
  • Per Game Active Bonus: $14,705 ($250,000)
  • Performance Incentive (cumulative)
    50% Snaps: $250,000
    30 Receptions: $250,000
Source: NFL contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

2023-2024 Free Agent

Contract Terms:
2 yr(s) / $3,400,000
Average Salary:
$1,700,000
Signing Bonus:
$150,000
GTD at Sign:
$1,380,000
Total GTD:
$1,380,000
Free Agent:
2025 / UFA
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2022-2022

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $1,035,000
Average Salary:
$1,035,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
GTD at Sign:
Total GTD:
Free Agent:
2023 / UFA
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2018-2021 Rookie

Contract Terms:
4 yr(s) / $2,761,739
Average Salary:
$690,435
Signing Bonus:
$301,739
GTD at Sign:
$301,739
Total GTD:
$301,739
Free Agent:
2022 / UFA
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Seasons

8 Years

Career Earnings thru 2026

$10,756,842

Earnings w/ Different Teams

3 teams

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2018 23
Active
$781,739
$781,739
2019 24
Active
$570,000
$1,351,739
2020 25
Active
$750,000
$2,101,739
 Champion
2021 26
Active
$920,000
$3,021,739
2022 27
Active
$1,035,000
$4,056,739
 Champion
2023 28
Active
$1,400,000
$5,456,739
 Champion
2024 29
Active
$3,000,000
$8,456,739
2025 30
Active
$2,300,103
$10,756,842
Total      
$10,756,842
$10,756,842
2026 31
Active
$2,500,000
Total
$13,256,842

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Incentives Cash Cumulative
4 $2,720,000 $301,739 - - - - $3,021,739
3 $3,985,000 $300,000 - - $40,000 $600,000 $5,435,000
1 $1,750,000 $500,000 - - $5,985 - $2,300,103
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Workout Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2018
23
$480,000
$301,739
$781,739
$781,739
2019
24
$570,000
$570,000
$1,351,739
2020
25
$750,000
$750,000
$2,101,739
2021
26
$920,000
$920,000
$3,021,739
2022
27
$1,035,000
$1,035,000
$4,056,739
2023
28
$1,080,000
$300,000
$20,000
$1,400,000
$5,456,739
2024
29
$1,870,000
$20,000
$600,000
$3,000,000
$8,456,739
2025
30
$1,750,000
$500,000
$5,985
$2,300,103
$10,756,842
Total
$8,455,000
$1,101,739
$45,985
$600,000
$10,756,842
$10,756,842
2026
31
$2,250,000
$2,500,000
Total
$10,705,000
$1,101,739
$45,985
$600,000
$13,256,842

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Incentives Cash Cumulative
4 $2,720,000 $301,739 - - - - $3,021,739
3 $3,985,000 $300,000 - - $40,000 $600,000 $5,435,000
1 $1,750,000 $500,000 - - $5,985 - $2,300,103

Injuries

Year Weeks Reason
2025 HOU 3 - 17 Achilles
2021 TB 1 - 15 Knee
  • Mar 10, 2025 Signed a 2 year $5 million contract with Houston (HOU)
  • Dec 01, 2023 Fined $6,833 Taunting against Las Vegas (LV)
  • Apr 14, 2023 Signed a 2 year $3.4 million contract with Kansas City (KC)
  • Feb 05, 2022 Signed a reserve/future contract with Kansas City (KC)
  • Jan 19, 2022 Signed to the practice squad by Tampa Bay (TB)
  • May 09, 2018 Signed a 4 year $2.76 million contract with Tampa Bay (TB)
  • Apr 28, 2018 Drafted by Tampa Bay (TB): Round 5 (#144 overall)

Fines

Date Reason Fine Amount
Dec 01, 2023 Taunting against Las Vegas (LV) $6,833
Fines: 1 $6,833
Year Team GP GS Snaps Snaps% Rec Receptions Rec Yards Rec Touchdowns Fum
2025 HOU 3 0 68 5.86 3 30 0 0
2024 KC 17 6 653 56.93 22 289 2 0
2023 KC 16 8 536 47.52 27 460 3 1
2022 KC 17 5 494 43.03 15 315 2 0
2021 TB 1 0 0 0.00 0 0 0 0
2020 TB 11 2 159 14.82 7 94 0 0
2019 TB 16 2 231 19.90 15 159 2 0
2018 TB 12 0 73 6.50 1 5 0 0
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