Former Clemson football star says he would have made $10 million in NIL era

If Deshaun Watson had been allowed to benefit off his name, image and likeness (NIL) while playing for the Clemson football team, how much money would he have made?

Asked that very question on a podcast he co-hosts, Watson, the former Tigers star who’s now the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, didn’t hesitate.

“I’d have been a millionaire, for sure,” Watson said recently on an episode of the “QB Unplugged” podcast he co-hosts with his private quarterback coach Quincy Avery.

Watson, 28, led Clemson to back-to-back College Football Playoffs and a 2016 national championship win over Alabama during his two years as a full-time starter.

But he couldn’t benefit from the hefty NIL deals some of today’s top college athletes are now enjoying. Watson left Clemson after the conclusion of the 2016 season, and the NCAA didn’t allow athletes to make money off their name, image and likeness until summer 2021.

Many have assumed Watson — a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist who was 32-3 as a starter at Clemson and averaged a school-record 318.3 yards of total offense per game – would’ve been a top earner if he was playing in college under similar rules.

He certainly agrees.

During a Feb. 28 episode of their “QB Unplugged” podcast, Avery and Watson were discussing the current state of college football when NIL came up.

“How much would you have made with NIL?” Avery said.

“I’d have been a millionaire, for sure,” Watson said.

Avery, a private quarterback trainer who’s well connected in the recruiting world, added that “elite” college quarterbacks can make around $1.75 million annually in NIL deals (Nebraska coach Matt Rhule has floated a similar number).

“Oh, I would’ve had more than that,” Watson said.

“Caleb (Williams) probably did about $6 million this year,” Avery said of the Southern Cal quarterback.

“He did $6 million this year? I would’ve done $10 (million),” Watson said. “Oh for sure, I would’ve done 10.”

Avery scoffed a bit at Watson’s proposed $10 million NIL number, especially in comparison to Williams,the presumed No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

“But he’s in LA coming off a Heisman,” Avery said of Williams.

“It doesn’t matter, though,” Watson said.

“How does it not?” Avery said. “What’s the money market in South Carolina?”

“We had Bama,” Watson said, referencing Clemson’s 35-31 win over Alabama in the 2016 CFP national championship game in Tampa, Florida. “Let alone, that was my Heisman. Everyone knew I should’ve probably won two Heismans. Like, I’m playing at Clemson. We’re going undefeated. We were lit.”

After dazzling as a part-time starter but missing the back half of his freshman season with injury in 2014, Watson took over as the full-time starter for coach Dabo Swinney’s program and led Clemson to back-to-back ACC championships and College Football Playoff berths.

During Watson’s two full seasons as a starter, Clemson lost in the national championship game to Alabama before getting back to the title game again in 2016 and beating the Crimson Tide in a highly anticipated rematch.

Watson, who finished No. 2 in Heisman Trophy voting that season behind Louisville’s Lamar Jackson, was 36 of 56 for 420 yards and three touchdowns (including a game-winner) in the victory and also had 43 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.

“I would’ve made a little bread” as a sophomore, Watson said. “I would’ve had some good checks. And then once we got to the playoffs and the end of the year? Crazy. But my junior year? For sure. Everybody knew from the spring. Right after the first Bama game, everybody knew — Clemson-Bama again in Tampa. It was already written.”

Deshaun Watson talks NIL

Firm numbers on current Clemson football players’ NIL earnings are scarce, but Tigers football players signed 61% of the 884 NIL deals signed by Clemson athletes from July 2021 to June 2023, according to data provided via public records request to the (Charleston) Post and Courier in January.

According to that same report, Clemson football players during that same time frame accounted for 131 of the 186 NIL contracts worth at least $10,000 apiece. One Tigers backup was offered $200,000 to transfer to another ACC school, per a February report from TigerIllustrated.com.

Watson, on his podcast, said that addition of NIL and the transfer portal to the college football landscape is “good for entertainment, for sure. … It levels out the playing field for everybody.”

Watson is entering his eighth NFL season and third with the Browns after five seasons and three Pro Bowls with the Houston Texans.

Watson was also suspended for 11 games during the 2022 season and had to pay a $5 million fine and participate in a treatment program after more than two dozen women accused him of sexual misconduct and harassment during massage appointments.

Watson has continuously denied all wrongdoing and was not charged criminally. As of July 2023, Watson had settled 23 of the 26 lawsuits filed against him, one was withdrawn and two others were still active, according to the New York Times.