In the wake of Patrick Mahomes’ massive extension with the Kansas City Chiefs, it has immediately shifted the attention over to the next batch of quarterbacks in line for their lucrative extensions with their respective teams. Deshaun Watson is front and center with that conversation as he appears headed toward a new deal with the Houston Texans. There haven’t been any parameters about when that deal will come, but he seems to be more than ready to push for what he wants. That all may have to wait a bit longer than he expects.

Deshaun Watson’s contract situation

Before Patrick Mahomes earned his lucrative deal with the Chiefs, the chatter around Deshaun Watson’s contractual future in Houston was a prominent topic in NFL circles.

Watson is going into the fourth year with the $17.5 million fifth-year option already picked up by the team. The two sides have continued to hold ongoing conversations around his next deal, but there hasn’t been any real traction toward that getting done in the immediate future. At the same time, there are reports that Watson is eyeing a shorter deal around three years to re-up for another contract much quicker during the prime of his career.

It’s a fluid situation that doesn’t have any footing toward a deal at this point, which appears that Watson may have to exercise a bit more patience with the situation.

Deshaun Watson may have to wait for Patrick Mahomes-like payday

Patrick Mahomes’ new deal does shake things up quite a bit, but the notion has remained the same around the Texans to get Deshaun Watson under a new extension.

The team has kept those lines of communication clear that they are working toward another contract with the 24-year-old. According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, the expectation is that Watson will command a deal between $40 to $42 million annually, but there is no time frame for when that will get done.

No contract extension is imminent for Watson as he enters his fourth NFL season, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly. But his payday is coming. It’s just a matter of how much he gets for how long. Watson has a preference to negotiate a shorter-term pact with the Texans, which would in theory get him back to the negotiating table sooner. Watson is expected to wind up in the $40 million to $42 million range annually.

That price range is quite reasonable given what Mahomes received on his contract that will average north of $45 million per season over his 10-year extension. Watson has quickly proven to be one of the league’s top quarterbacks and the epitome of a franchise cornerstone.

The Texans still have time as he has two years left on his deal, but the longer they wait, the more they will likely have to shovel out of their pockets to retain him.

Pressure on Texans to get extension done with Deshaun Watson

Through his first three years in the league, Deshaun Watson has showcased that he’s the real deal.

The Pro Bowler has guided the team to back-to-back playoff appearances behind a pair of AFC South division titles. He has provided stability to the position that they haven’t had since the day of Matt Schaub. Watson is one of the game’s best quarterbacks that has a bright future ahead of him that.

The Texans are well aware of that, and that will come with a hefty price tag for his next contract as he’s more than put himself in the position to cash in with a historic payday. Ultimately, Watson has put his cards on the table, and it’s up to Bill O’Brien and the organization to get the job done.