The cost for Deshaun Watson sitting out the 2021 season

Should Deshaun Watson stick with his pledge of never playing for the Texans - and the Texans don’t trade him - here is what he could lose financially.

Minicamp

Minicamps are mandatory, and if Watson skips it, he’ll be subject to a fine of $93,085.

Training camp

Training camps are mandatory. If Watson skips training camp, he’d be fined $50,000 per day.

There are 40 days of training camp in the NFL and six mandatory days off. If Watson skips training camp, he would be fined a total of $1.7 million.

Preseason

I expect there to be two preseason games (the number is not official yet.)

If Watson misses a preseason game, he would be fined the amount of a regular-season game check for each preseason game he misses. At a base salary of $10.54 million, that’s $620,000 per game. He would lose another $1.24 million.

Regular season

If the NFL plays 17 regular season games in 2021 season, Watson would lose another $11.16 million in base salary.

Signing bonus

If Watson sits out the 2021 season, the Texans can recover the signing-bonus Watson would have been paid at the beginning of the season. Watson would have to return $5.4 million to the Texans.

That’s a financial loss of $19.593 million.

Retirement

If he retires, the Texans can collect $21.6 million.

And per Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk, skipping the full year also would toll Watson’s contract. If Watson returns in 2022, his base salary would remain $10.54 million (based on 16 games). Currently, he has a 2022 base salary of $35 million (based on 16 games). That salary would move to 2023, and Watson would make more than $24 million less in 2022 than he’s currently due to earn.

In other news, The Texans released RB Duke Johnson & C Nick Martin, freeing up $11.275M of 2021 cap space, giving them around $19M to work with as March approaches, per Spotrac.

Related ========

February 4, 2021

Texans GM reiterates commitment to Watson: ‘Zero interest’ in trade

New Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio said Friday the team doesn’t intend to trade Deshaun Watson despite the star quarterback’s reported formal request to leave.

“I just want to reiterate our commitment to Deshaun Watson,” Caserio said after introducing new head coach David Culley, per NFLMedia.

“We have zero interest in trading the player,” he added. “We have a great plan and vision for him. We look forward to spending more time with him.”

Culley echoed Caserio’s message that Houston is moving forward under the assumption Watson will be the team’s quarterback.

“He is a Houston Texan. I want him to be a Houston Texan,” said Culley, per ESPN’s Field Yates. “The reason I’m in this position today is because I know he’s going to be a Houston Texan.”

Watson requested an exit after his relationship with the team ownership deteriorated amid the process that led to Caserio’s hiring.

The 25-year-old reportedly hasn’t spoken to Caserio or executive Jack Easterby since the general manager was hired.

“The best way you handle relationships is to communicate and be honest and forthright,” Caserio said when asked how they can salvage the pairing with Watson.

The hiring of Culley will not change Watson’s mind about leaving H-Town.

The Miami Dolphins and New York Jets are believed to be the front-runners to sign the Texans’ signal-caller, though he’s expected to have interest from the majority of the league.

Watson, who signed a four-year, $156-million extension in September, set career highs with 4,823 passing yards and 33 touchdowns this season.

Watson had been a model player and leader prior to the kerfuffle with the Texans brass. Watson was reportedly frustrated with Houston’s ownership over being left out of the franchise’s general manager search despite assurances he’d be consulted.