Houston Texans: Deshaun Watson’s contract request make sense

The Houston Texans are expected to work out a contract extension with their franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson.

There were reports around the NFL that the Houston Texans were going to work on a contract extension with quarterback Deshaun Watson after taking care of the 2019 Pro Bowl left tackle, Laremy Tunsil. The Texans ended up making Tunsil the highest-paid offensive tackle in the league after he signed a three-year deal worth up to $66 million with $50 million guaranteed.

Texans were all in with Tunsil after giving up a king’s ransom to the Miami Dolphins to ensure that Watson had one of the top young left tackles in the game to protect his blindside. Tunsil proved to do that and more in his short time as he was able to pick up the playbook after he was traded days before the start of Week 1.

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Tunsil’s deal won’t be into effect until he plays out the fifth-year option this season. Tunsil will basically be under contract with Houston four more seasons, including the north of $10 million he is expected to earn this season, but he will have another opportunity to get a handsome contract before he turns the age of 30.

It seems Watson will follow suit after Mike Florio of NBC Pro Football Talk reported that the Texans quarterback is also seeking a three-year deal.

Doing a three year deal with Watson is the best outcome for both sides. Texans have him for five more seasons with the two years remaining in his rookie deal, and they could give him another bite at the apple before he turns 30. Having a short contract extension not only gives him what he wants, but it also eliminates the element of discontent of having to rework deal in the future.

Bigger contract extensions have proven to backfire in Houston’s situation after the guaranteed years expired in the cases of Duane Brown and DeAndre Hopkins. Not only did they want to rework their contract to include guaranteed money, but they also wanted a pay upgrade in some of their respective cases.

Having shorter deals in place with their star players allows the players to come back to the negotiating table with the team sooner. It essentially solves a problem the Texans had to deal with in the past.

If any player has the leverage to request a short contract extension, it’s Watson, as the entire team revolves around him as the franchise quarterback. Texans’ front office traded up to draft him in 2017 and have gone above and beyond to make sure he succeeds in the offense.

This request will be a small one to grant if it ensures that Texans get a deal done before Dak Prescott with the Dallas Cowboys and Patrick Mahomes II with the Kansas City Chiefs.