By elite NFL quarterback standards, Deshaun Watson’s rookie contract is a major bargain—only $13.8 million guaranteed over four years. He’ll make much, much more than that when he becomes a free agent in 2022 ($45-$50 million per year doesn’t sound crazy, the way QB salaries increase).
But that second payday probably won’t match the thrill of his first. After signing his rookie deal, Watson says he woke up in the middle of the night just to see that direct deposit hit his bank account.
“I was at the team rookie hotel and they were like, ‘Your first money is gonna hit the bank at 2 a.