Details of Jaylen Watson's Rams contract reveal low 2026 cap hit

ASFN Admin

Administrator
Administrator
Moderator
Supporting Member
Joined
May 8, 2002
Posts
1,149,763
Reaction score
59
Jaylen Watson can’t sign his new contract with the Rams until Wednesday afternoon when the new league year begins, but the details of his three-year deal have already emerged.

His contract is worth $51 million and comes with $34 million guaranteed, $26.5 million of which is fully guaranteed at signing. He’ll get another $7.5 million guaranteed next March on the third day of the league year, essentially making this a two-year pact worth $34 million.

Digging into the finer details, we can see what his cap hits will be. With a base salary of only $2.25 million in 2026 and a signing bonus of $12.74 million that’s prorated across three years, Watson’s cap hit this year is very manageable.

According to Spotrac, his cap number is $6.9 million in 2026 before jumping to $22.7 million in 2027 and $21.2 million in 2028, if he’s still on the team. If things don’t work out after two seasons, the Rams can cut him and save $17 million, taking on just $4.2 million in dead money in 2028.


#Rams Jaylen Watson deal: $51M, $34M gtd, $12.74M signing bonus, salaries $2.25M (gtd), $13.99M (gtd for inj at signing, $11M skill, cap at signing, $2.99M more gtd 3rd day 2027 LG yr, $4M 3rd day 2027 LG yr roster bonus, annual $30K per game active roster bonuses,

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 9, 2026

Watson's contract ensures he'll be with the Rams for at least two seasons, with a team option in 2028, as long as he continues to play well. And though his contract is sizable, he's still not one of the highest-paid corners in the league.

As of now, his salary of $17 million per year ranks 20th among cornerbacks, well below his former and current teammate, Trent McDuffie. On his new four-year deal, the Rams are paying McDuffie $31 million per year.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Jaylen Watson contract: Full details, cap hits for new Rams CB

Continue reading...
 
Top