Two big news came from the NFL today. The first is that Texans’ QB DeShaun Watson signed an extension with his team, the same as Keenan Allen did with his LA Chargers.
Watson Stays in Texas
Houston and the prolific QB signed a four-year $160 million deal, which will keep him in the team for the next five years. The Texans did a superb job with securing Watson long-term and making him the second-highest-paid quarterback in the league.
His base salary will be $39 million per year at the moment when the extension kicks in, and the only one with a bigger contract will be Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes with $45 million.
The player of Watson’s caliber definitely deserves such a deal, and there is no doubt that the Texans hit the jackpot when picking him at the 2017 NFL draft. He was the 12th overall selection, coming out from Clemson as the CFP champion the year before and one of the best college players.
Watson became the starter pretty soon, following Tom Savage’s injury. It would open a space for the youngster at the time to show all of shi potential and immediately establish himself as one of the best QBs in the league. In seven games during the rookie season, Watson had 19 TD passes and two through the ground, having to end his season due to a tough ACL injury.
But already the next season, he would show all of his capabilities with 26 TD passes and nine interceptions, along with five rushing TDs. In 2019, Watson had the same number of passing TDs, and seven rushings, becoming the first player since Steve Young with multiple seasons that saw 25+ passing TDs and 5+rushing TDs.
During this offseason, the Texans made big moves, trading away DeAndre Hopkins and landing David Johnson, Brandin Cooks, and Randall Cobb.
Allen Staying in LA
The Chargers also made one big deal today, and that is keeping their star, WR Keenan Allen, in the city. He signed a four-year $80 million extension, with $50 million guaranteed money.
Allen is one of the biggest names in Chargers’ history, although he played for seven years here. In 2013, the franchise stationed in San Diego recognized his talent, taking him up in the third round as the 76th overall pick.
Ever since, the Chargers’ fans couldn’t imagine their favorites without Allen in the starting lineup. He would become a three-time consecutive Pro-Bowl player, from 2017 to 2019, winning the 2017 Comeback Player of the Year award.
Allen was the 2013 Rookie of the Year with 1,047 receiving yards and 8 TDs, and in total, he collected 6,405 yards through the air in 86 games, recording 34 TDs. Over the last three years, he posted 1,100+ yards each time, becoming the No.1 WR among the Chargers and the star in the entire league.
The franchise from California is trying to fit all the pieces together after their long-time QB Philip Rivers left the town, and is hoping that Allen takes that leadership responsibilities all on himself.
