Benjamin Watson

New England Patriots, Tight End
Age: 43-350d (Dec 18, 1980)
Exp: 15 Years
College: Georgia
Drafted: Round 1 (#32 overall), 2004
RETIRED

2019-2019

Benjamin Watson signed a 1 year , $800,000 contract with the New England Patriots, including $800,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $800,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $800,000
Average Salary:
$800,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
GTD at Sign:
$800,000
Total GTD:
$800,000
Free Agent:
2020 / UFA
MANAGE CONTRACT
Year Age Cap HitAnnual Cap % League Cap Cash Annual Cash Cumulative Dead Cap Annual
2019 39 $940,000 0.50% $940,000 $940,000 $800,000
2020 40
UFA
Year Age Base P5 Salary Incentives Likely Cap Hit Cap % League Cap Dead Cap
2019 39 $800,000 $140,000 $940,000 0.50% $800,000
2020 40
UFA
Year Age Base P5 Salary Cash Total Cash Cumulative AYC Cumulative AYC Remaining
2019 39 $800,000 $940,000 $940,000 $940,000 $940,000
Contract Notes

 

Source: NFL contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

2019-2019

Benjamin Watson signed a 1 year , $3,000,000 contract with the New England Patriots, including $600,000 signing bonus, $600,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $3,000,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $3,000,000
Average Salary:
$3,000,000
Signing Bonus:
$600,000
GTD at Sign:
$600,000
Total GTD:
$600,000
Free Agent:
2020 / UFA
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2018-2018

Benjamin Watson signed a 1 year , $2,000,000 contract with the New Orleans Saints, including $645,000 signing bonus, $645,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $2,000,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $2,000,000
Average Salary:
$2,000,000
Signing Bonus:
$645,000
GTD at Sign:
$645,000
Total GTD:
$645,000
Free Agent:
2019 / UFA
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2016-2017

Benjamin Watson signed a 2 year , $7,000,000 contract with the Baltimore Ravens, including $2,000,000 signing bonus, $3,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $3,500,000.
Contract Terms:
2 yr(s) / $7,000,000
Average Salary:
$3,500,000
Signing Bonus:
$2,000,000
GTD at Sign:
$3,000,000
Total GTD:
$3,000,000
Free Agent:
2018 / UFA
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2013-2015

Benjamin Watson signed a 3 year , $4,950,000 contract with the New Orleans Saints, including $1,200,000 signing bonus, $1,200,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $1,650,000.
Contract Terms:
3 yr(s) / $4,950,000
Average Salary:
$1,650,000
Signing Bonus:
$1,200,000
GTD at Sign:
Total GTD:
$1,200,000
Free Agent:
2016 / UFA
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2010-2012

Benjamin Watson signed a 3 year , $12,000,000 contract with the Cleveland Browns, including $6,350,000 signing bonus, $6,350,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $4,000,000.
Contract Terms:
3 yr(s) / $12,000,000
Average Salary:
$4,000,000
Signing Bonus:
$6,350,000
GTD at Sign:
Total GTD:
$6,350,000
Free Agent:
2013 / UFA
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2004-2009 Rookie

Benjamin Watson signed a 6 year , $7,300,000 contract with the New England Patriots, including $2,700,000 signing bonus, and an average annual salary of $1,216,667.
Contract Terms:
6 yr(s) / $7,300,000
Average Salary:
$1,216,667
Signing Bonus:
$2,700,000
GTD at Sign:
Total GTD:
Free Agent:
2010 / UFA
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Seasons

15 Years

Career Earnings thru 2024

$33,695,086

Earnings w/ Different Teams

4 teams

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2004 24
Active
$3,200,000
$3,200,000
 Champion
2005 25
Active
$1,660,000
$4,860,000
2006 26
Active
$460,000
$5,320,000
2007 27
Active
$560,000
$5,880,000
2008 28
Active
$785,000
$6,665,000
2009 29
Active
$910,000
$7,575,000
2010 30
Active
$6,700,000
$14,275,000
2011 31
Active
$2,420,000
$16,695,000
2012 32
Active
$2,880,000
$19,575,000
2013 33
Active
$2,450,000
$22,025,000
2014 34
Active
$1,284,375
$23,309,375
2015 35
Active
$1,566,299
$24,875,674
2016 36
Injured
$4,000,000
$28,875,674
2017 37
Active
$1,250,000
$30,125,674
2018 38
Active
$2,000,000
$32,125,674
2019 39
Active
Retained
$940,000
$629,412
$33,065,674
$33,695,086
Total
$33,695,086

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Incentives Cash Cumulative
7 $4,545,588 $3,158,824 - - - $140,000 $9,144,412
3 $5,650,000 $6,350,000 - - - - $12,000,000
4 $4,255,000 $1,845,000 $984,375 - $150,000 $66,299 $7,300,674
2 $2,250,000 $2,000,000 $1,000,000 - - - $5,250,000
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Workout Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2004
24
$500,000
$2,700,000
$3,200,000
$3,200,000
2005
25
$360,000
$1,300,000
$1,660,000
$4,860,000
2006
26
$460,000
$460,000
$5,320,000
2007
27
$560,000
$560,000
$5,880,000
2008
28
$785,000
$785,000
$6,665,000
2009
29
$910,000
$910,000
$7,575,000
2010
30
$350,000
$6,350,000
$6,700,000
$14,275,000
2011
31
$2,420,000
$2,420,000
$16,695,000
2012
32
$2,880,000
$2,880,000
$19,575,000
2013
33
$950,000
$1,200,000
$250,000
$50,000
$2,450,000
$22,025,000
2014
34
$1,000,000
$234,375
$50,000
$1,284,375
$23,309,375
2015
35
$1,200,000
$250,000
$50,000
$66,299
$1,566,299
$24,875,674
2016
36
$1,000,000
$2,000,000
$1,000,000
$4,000,000
$28,875,674
2017
37
$1,250,000
$1,250,000
$30,125,674
2018
38
$1,105,000
$645,000
$250,000
$2,000,000
$32,125,674
2019
39
$800,000
$170,588
$458,824
$140,000
$940,000
$629,412
$33,065,674
$33,695,086
Total
$16,700,588
$13,353,824
$1,984,375
$1,300,000
$150,000
$206,299
$33,695,086

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Incentives Cash Cumulative
7 $4,545,588 $3,158,824 - - - $140,000 $9,144,412
3 $5,650,000 $6,350,000 - - - - $12,000,000
4 $4,255,000 $1,845,000 $984,375 - $150,000 $66,299 $7,300,674
2 $2,250,000 $2,000,000 $1,000,000 - - - $5,250,000

Injuries

Year Weeks Reason
2016 BAL 1 - 17 Knee (ACL)
  • Mar 16, 2020 Retired from Professional Football
  • Oct 14, 2019 Signed a 1 year $800,000 contract with New England (NE)
  • Oct 07, 2019 Released by New England (NE)
  • May 26, 2019 Suspended 4 games for violating the league's PED policy, forfeiting $557,293 of 2019 salary/bonus with New England (NE)
  • May 09, 2019 Signed a 1 year $3 million contract with New England (NE)
  • Mar 28, 2018 Signed a 1 year $2 million contract with New Orleans (NO)
  • Jun 13, 2017 Agreed to reduce his 2017 salary from $3M to $1.25M with Baltimore (BAL), clearing $1.75M in cap
  • Mar 09, 2016 Signed a 2 year $7 million contract with Baltimore (BAL)
  • Mar 18, 2013 Signed a 3 year $4.95 million contract with New Orleans (NO)
  • Mar 12, 2010 Signed a 3 year $12 million contract with Cleveland (CLE)
  • Aug 16, 2004 Signed a 6 year $7.3 million contract with New England (NE)
  • Apr 24, 2004 Drafted by New England (NE): Round 1 (#32 overall)
Year Team GP GS Snaps Snaps% Rec Targets Rec Receptions Rec Yards Rec Yards/Rec Rec Yards/Gm Rec Touchdowns Fum
2019 NE 10 8 469 59.10 24 17 173 10.2 17.3 0 0
2018 NO 16 4 504 48.00 46 35 400 11.4 25.0 2 0
2017 BAL 16 12 699 64.40 79 61 522 8.6 32.6 4 1
2016 BAL 0 0 0 0.00 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0 0
2015 NO 16 16 986 84.90 110 74 825 11.1 51.6 6 1
2014 NO 16 9 571 50.10 31 20 136 6.8 8.5 2 0
2013 NO 15 7 497 44.10 30 19 226 11.9 15.1 2 0
2012 CLE 16 14 853 82.70 81 49 501 10.2 31.3 3 1
2011 CLE 13 11 0 0.00 71 37 410 11.1 31.5 2 0

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TRANSACTIONS

Mar 16, 2020
Retired from Professional Football
Oct 14, 2019
Signed a 1 year $800,000 contract with New England (NE)
Oct 07, 2019
Released by New England (NE)
May 26, 2019
Suspended 4 games for violating the league's PED policy, forfeiting $557,293 of 2019 salary/bonus with New England (NE)
May 09, 2019
Signed a 1 year $3 million contract with New England (NE)
Mar 28, 2018
Signed a 1 year $2 million contract with New Orleans (NO)
Jun 13, 2017
Agreed to reduce his 2017 salary from $3M to $1.25M with Baltimore (BAL), clearing $1.75M in cap
Mar 09, 2016
Signed a 2 year $7 million contract with Baltimore (BAL)
Mar 18, 2013
Signed a 3 year $4.95 million contract with New Orleans (NO)
Mar 12, 2010
Signed a 3 year $12 million contract with Cleveland (CLE)
Aug 16, 2004
Signed a 6 year $7.3 million contract with New England (NE)
Apr 24, 2004
Drafted by New England (NE): Round 1 (#32 overall)

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