NFL: Predicting the next 5 massive QB contracts after Patrick Mahomes deal

Deshaun Watson contract prediction: Six years, $234 million

Trying to predict how Bill O’Brien will manage the Houston Texans in the front office is a fool’s errand at this point. Between him trading away draft picks like they’re crashing stocks to him also trading away DeAndre Hopkins for mid-round draft picks and David Johnson make him a bonafide wild card when it comes to what he’ll do. Yet, signing quarterback Deshaun Watson to a long-term contract has to be an obvious move…right?

Selected just two picks after Mahomes in the 2017 NFL Draft, Watson hasn’t necessarily enjoyed the same level of success as his peer but has still been quite impressive. In 37 career starts, he has completed 66.8 percent of his passes for 9,716 yards, 71 touchdowns and 29 interceptions in addition to making the playoffs in each of his first two full seasons as the starting quarterback in Houston.

Unlike with Prescott, though, there is no inherent rush for the Texans to lock up Watson right now. Yes, the quarterback is surely ready to get his money, as his reaction to the Mahomes deal on social media showed us.

My best prediction is that Watson will strategically wait for Prescott to sign a deal before he signs his. The point in that will be inking a deal that falls between the Cowboys quarterback and Mahomes in terms of annual average value. And in the wake of the 10-year extension, I believe Houston will tack on an extra year from the customary five to end up with a six-year contract that pays $39 million per year.