Texans Daily

Texans Ex-QB Deshaun Watson Making NFL Contract History

Deshaun Watson's contract is making NFL history in 2023

Matt Galatzan

When the Houston Texans traded Deshaun Watson to the Cleveland Browns last spring, Watson signed a massive extension, totaling five years and $230 million - every dollar of which was guaranteed.

And due to the structure of the contract, Watson has now made NFL history, with his cap hit expanding to $54.993 million in 2023, making it the largest cap hit in NFL history.

The cap hit also totals 21.7 percent of the Browns' total salary cap budget, and will remain the same every year through the 2026 season. 

Before Watson's extension, the previous highest cap hit in league history was $39 million.

In other words, the Browns, who traded three first-round picks (2022, 2023, and 2024) as well as a third-round pick in 2023, a 2022 fourth-round pick (No. 107), and a fourth-round pick in 2024, have ostensibly mortgaged their entire future on the hopes that Watson can turn their franchise around. 

Watson, meanwhile, is coming off of a forgettable first season back under center, in which he completed just 58.2 percent of his passes for 1,102 yards and seven touchdowns with five interceptions in six games - hardly the results Browns fans wanted to see upon his debut for the team. 

That said, Watson is not the only player exceeding that $39 million number next season. 

According to Spotrac, four other cap hits will also exceed that number, with Cowboys' quarterback Dak Prescott's cap hit set for $49.1 million, Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes' hit set for $46.8 million, and Bills QB Josh Allen's cap hit at $39.8 million.

But, unless Watson can turn things around next season, the Browns could find themselves in an exceedingly difficult position heading into the future. 

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Matt Galatzan
MATT GALATZAN

Matt Galatzan the Editor-In-Chief of TexansDaily.com. Galatzan graduated from the University of Mississippi, where he studied integrated marketing communications, with minors in journalism and business administration. Galatzan started in the sports journalism industry under Mike Fisher at DallasBasketball.com in 2014, which at the time was part of the 247Sports network. He also spent two years covering the SMU Mustangs for PonyStampede.com on the 247Sports network. When DallasBasketball.com and CowboysCountry.com moved over to Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation network in 2020, Galatzan followed suit, eventually being taking over as the Managing Editor and Publisher of LonghornsCountry.com and AllAggies.com a year later. Through the years, Galatzan has conducted a handful of high-profile one-on-one interviews to add to his resume — in both writing and podcasting. Some of his biggest interviews have been with Mavs owner Mark Cuban, former Longhorns players Dan Neil and Phil Dawson, and many other recruits, and current/former players for each of the teams he has covered. Galatzan is also a full-time employee in the digital media department for Audacy and KRLD FM's 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, which is the official radio home of the Dallas Cowboys. You can find Galatzan on all major social media channels. For any inquiries, please email matt.galatzan@gmail.com