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Quarterback Deshaun Watson met with new Houston Texans coach David Culley last Friday, sources said, and informed Culley he had no plans to run for the team again.
Upset at the way the organization has operated in recent years, Watson asked the Texans to trade him and has had very little contact with the team since the end of the season. The conversation with Culley would have been the first between the two. Culley said during his introductory press conference that he expected Watson to make the team in 2021.
But according to the sources, Watson’s message to Culley at Friday’s meeting was that nothing has changed on his end and that he would still like to be traded. So far, the Texans have told interested teams they have no plans to trade Watson, who just signed a four-year, $ 156 million contract extension last summer until 2025.
Trading Watson is reportedly costing the Texans $ 21.6million in dead money over this year’s salary cap – a big blow since his maximum number if he’s on the squad is just 15.94million. dollars.
Any team that acquires the young superstar would get a great deal in 2021, as Watson is only expected to earn a salary of $ 10.54 million this year before that number jumps to $ 35 million in 2022, $ 37 million in 2023. and $ 32 million each in 2024 and 2025.
If the Texans choose not to trade Watson, he could choose not to attend mandatory team activities or training camp, but at a cost. Houston can fine Watson $ 95,877 for a missing minicamp and fine him $ 50,000 per day for each day of training camp missed, plus a week’s pay – $ 620,000 – for each game of pre-season missed. In the unlikely scenario where Watson chooses to retire, the Texans can raise $ 21.6 million.
Watson’s swap request came after he was reportedly unhappy with the process the team used to hire new chief executive Nick Caserio in early January.
Watson has set career highs in the 2020 season in passing yards, touchdowns and completion percentage. He also threw seven interceptions at his career low. His 33 touchdowns and 4,823 passing yards were franchise records in one season.
He is the NFL’s career leader in 67.8% completion percentage, ahead of New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees. In 2020, Watson became just the 11th player in NFL history to complete at least 70% of his passes in a season.
Sarah Barshop of ESPN contributed to this report.
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