Franchise tags will likely cost you much more. At current rate increases the tag would cost 18 million in 2016 and the 120% rule would put him at over 21 million for 2017.
Thank you, Jesus!! Watt is Olajuwon-good and glad we sowed him up. Not only is he a great player, but he's a great person. I've talked to Texan employees and they said he's truly a nice guy.. MUCH respect. He did a commercial with his mom after-all. Cushing and Foster didn't get the same sentiment. Still cheer for them though.
Hmmm. Hoping for huge 2nd and 3rd year numbers so that once Clowney extension comes along we will be able to keep both.
If you are locking him in as the face of your franchise, it's worth taking on some of the risk of a long term deal, and paying him a small premium if it keeps him happy, and positive.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Interesting that Watt's base salary this season will be $907,385 instead of the $1.9 million he would have made.</p>— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/McClain_on_NFL/statuses/506684925769035776">September 2, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>In 2015, he was going to get $6.9 million. Now it's $9.969 mil. Extension ends after the 2021 season.</p>— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/McClain_on_NFL/statuses/506685149728104448">September 2, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Better for the Texans. They then get his 2 FA years bought out at a reasonable rate. I really don't think you could have expected much better, from the Texans' view.
Yeah obviously, we have to draft well in general to be able to compete. Can't splurge on FA and expect long term success.
In general, yes. But I was making more of an indictment on past drafts with this current front office. Cutting 2nd, 3rd and 4th rounders after 2 seasons cannot continue.
Interesting that McClain find the concept of bonuses and other non-base salary compensation interesting.
Correct me if I'm wrong (completely ignorant of the NFL cap), but I think it was important to get Watt's extension started this year, while we still suck and have expendable cap space to begin using on paying him via his signing bonus. If we didn't sign him this year we would have just been kicking the can on paying him to future years where we might actually have needed the money more--on account of being, you know, good.
Can't wait until he sprains a toe and then people b**** about the Texans giving him a needless extension.
