DONE DEAL
Inside Deshaun Watson's emotional press conference, one of many surprises
Sep 7, 2020, 9:35 am
Photo by Getty Images.
HOUSTON — "What's up, D-Dub?" Clemson's head coach Dabo Swinney said with excitement late Saturday evening. The two-time national champion as head coach of the Clemson Tigers was one of several individuals who made a surprise guest appearance via Zoom to congratulate Deshaun Watson on his recent accompaniment.
Nearly nine hours before Swinney jumped on the call, Watson and the Houston Texans agreed to a four-year $160 million contract extension. Under his new deal, Watson can make up to $177.54 million, with $111 million in guarantees. The two parties made history by making Watson the second-highest paid player in NFL history — trailing only Patrick Mahomes and his 10-year contract worth up to $503 million.
Swinney went on to reminisce about Watson's growth from a freshman quarterback who tore his ACL to a national champion as a junior during his three-year collegiate career at Clemson. After Swinney ended his call by telling Watson, "you've got to go perform now," Houston Astros' pitcher Justin Verlander made an appearance to congratulate his good friend.
Inside the NRG Stadium, Watson displayed the same poise the Texans have become accustomed to as his former high school assistant coach, Michael Perry, and good friend Ethan Hughes stopped by to show their admiration towards the two-time Pro-Bowl quarterback. Already high on emotions, it wasn't until Watson saw his family flash across the screen is when the tears began to flow.
"I mean, that's really the only reason why I'm crying is just the moments, the good, the bad, the ugly, the sacrifice from day one, since I was a little kid in Gainesville, Georgia, until now," Watson said while trying to fight through tears. "Like I said before, the money is fine. It's cool. Like [I] told my family told me last night, I didn't do it for the money. That's just something that comes with it. I mean, it's just — it's a lot, for sure."
The words congratulations Deshaun filled the audio call yet again. In the midst of this, a family member encapsulated Watson's full journey by shouting out, "All that grinding, glad it paid off, boy. I'm proud of you." That same grind that began with humble beginnings in Gainesville resulted in the Texans' decision to draft the 6-foot-2 Georgia native with the 12th overall pick during the 2017 NFL Draft. Three years later, his grind led to the McNair family extending their belief in Watson as Houston's franchise quarterback through 2025 — at the very least.
"The biggest thing is for the McNair family, O.B. [Bill O'Brien], and Jack [Easterby] to just trust in me and believe that I'm their guy, I'm their quarterback is the biggest thing that really touches me," Watson said. "Growing up from where I'm from, there's not too many people that make it out, and so for them to just trust me really means the most. That's the biggest thing."
Obviously, Watson earned his contract extension due to his on-field talents. Since his arrival in Houston, Watson has already established himself as the Texans' best quarterback in franchise history. Bouncing back from a knee injury that limited him to seven games during his rookie season, Watson has recorded a career 9,716 passing yards with 71 touchdowns, while setting a franchise record 14 rushing touchdowns for a quarterback.
However, it was his character off the field that furthered solidified the Texans' decision to extend their confidence in Watson. Head coach and general manager Bill O'Brien said Watson's persona and hard work embody the model of the type of player the Texans want to have within the organization. Executive Vice President of Football Operations, Jack Easterby, raved about Watson's gift as a good friend, great communicator and a leader both on and off the field.
With a lengthy contract extension, Watson will continue to focus on building his legacy in a city he is happy to call home. It's a winning legacy that has witnessed Watson capture a state championship at Gainesville High School and a national championship at Clemson.
Through the tears of joy that filled the Zoom called, Watson said his mother, Deann Watson, reminded him that the journey to lead the Texans to their first Super Bowl championship continues this Thursday against the Kansas City Chiefs.
"She [Deann Watson] said, 'Congratulations, but you've got a game to win Thursday and you've got a championship to go get.' And then she started getting into all the other stuff. I mean, having that mother that understands my priorities and my goals in life, I mean, it's amazing. It makes life a lot more easier, so it was awesome." — Watson.
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The 2025 season hasn't gone according to script for the Houston Astros. Injuries, slumps, and a retooled roster have left fans asking whether this version of the Astros is underwhelming—or if, given all the turmoil, they might actually be overachieving.
When Houston dealt Kyle Tucker, a franchise cornerstone, the move raised eyebrows. Tucker was a consistent producer and an anchor in right field. In return, the Astros received infielder Isaac Paredes, pitcher Hayden Wesneski, and third baseman now outfielder Cam Smith—players who didn’t bring the same star power but offered versatility and upside.
Paredes has delivered as advertised. He’s brought steady production at the plate and the ability to play a solid third base. While he may not be with the team beyond 2027 if the front office sticks to its recent pattern of letting players walk in free agency, his presence right now is stabilizing an otherwise inconsistent lineup.
Then there’s Cam Smith, who might be the real key to this deal. After a slow start and questions about whether he or Zach Dezenzo was the better option in right field, Smith has surged. Over the past 30 days, he’s hit north of .300 and shown signs of becoming a long-term fixture. The biggest question now is positional: Is he Houston’s future in right field, or could he eventually slide over to third base if/when Paredes departs? That decision will ripple through future roster planning and could define how this trade is remembered.
In the meantime, however, he’s shown flashes of being a quality everyday player. But it’s not uncommon for young hitters to take a step back after an initial surge. The Astros need him to keep proving it, but the potential is unmistakable.
Underwhelming or overachieving?
Elsewhere on the roster, the results are mixed. Players like Jake Meyers and Victor Caratini, who came into the season with modest expectations, have performed admirably. Meanwhile, stars like José Altuve, Christian Walker, and Yainer Díaz have underperformed, leaving the offensive output uneven. Add in the extended absence of Yordan Álvarez and the loss of three-fifths of the starting rotation, and it's fair to say Houston has had more than its share of adversity.
King of the hill
One area where the Astros have arguably found a diamond in the rough is Bryan King. With a 1.52 ERA in 2025, King has passed the eye test as a potential long-term solution in high-leverage relief situations. He’s been more than capable, building on a solid 2.39 ERA in 2024. His performance has solidified his place in the bullpen, and he’s taken on ownership of his role. However, it’s important for the Astros to temper expectations, especially after the lessons learned from the Rafael Montero signing. King looks like the real deal, but he still has a ways to go before being considered a true elite option out of the 'pen.
What should we make of the Alex Bregman quad injury?
Bregman’s injury doesn’t really change the conversation around whether the Astros should have extended him. If anything, it highlights the complexity of roster decisions. Houston could’ve kept Bregman, shifted Paredes to first base, and potentially avoided spending big on Christian Walker. But injuries are part of the game—Yordan Álvarez has missed nearly half the season, and no one’s suggesting the Astros should regret signing him. Kyle Tucker missed significant time last year, too, and he’s about to land a massive contract. Players get hurt. That’s baseball.
Moving forward
While the Astros have struggled with injuries and inconsistent performances, they have managed to remain competitive—perhaps even overachieving given the circumstances. The team's depth, the surprising performances from certain players, and the emergence of promising new talent have allowed them to hold their ground, currently possessing a Wild Card spot in the AL if the season were to end today.
There's so much more to discuss! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday!
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