AFC Notes: Colts, Jaguars, Texans

Colts

Colts’ HC Frank Reich says that rookie OL Danny Pinter has important versatility and thinks he has what it takes to make it in the NFL.

“I give Danny a lot of credit,” Reich said, via Joel A. Erickson of IndyStar.com “Ideally, you want to stick a rookie at one spot and let them learn one spot and get good at one spot and then gradually phase in a second position and then so on and so forth. But just for a variety of reasons, we’ve put him under the gun and he’s just responded. He looks really good at center, has the football IQ to play that position with what we demand from our center. He’s athletic, so he can do all the things that we need the center to do. At guard, he’s strong enough and stout enough to take on those big defensive tackles.”

• On Thursday, the Colts signed C Ryan Kelly to a four-year, $50 million extension.
• Kelly spoke about now being the NFL’s highest-paid center. “I know that’s only going to last until the next one.” (Joel A. Erickson)
• Kelly says that being the highest-paid center in the league isn’t very important to him: “Someone’s gonna jump you eventually. I just want to live up to the contract that I signed.” (George Bremer)
• The Colts worked out C Jordan Devey, G Jordan Roos, TE Charlie Taumoepeau, and T Casey Tucker on Saturday. (Albert Breer)

Jaguars

• Per Jacksonville.com’s John Reid, Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell said S Ronnie Harrison was in a close battle for the starting job with Josh Jones and fifth-round rookie Daniel Thomas, which played a role in their decision to trade him. 

Texans

Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio has the full details of Texans QB Deshaun Watson‘s four-year extension. It includes: 

• A $27 million signing bonus with half due in 15 days, $6.5 million due by October 20 and $6.5 million due by December 20. 
• 2020: $1.177 million base salary fully guaranteed, $500,000 base de-escalator for not participating in 84 percent of the offseason program. 
• 2021: $10.54 million base salary fully guaranteed, $500,000 base de-escalator for not participating in 84 percent of the offseason program.
• 2022: $35 million base salary fully guaranteed, $500,000 base de-escalator for not participating in 84 percent of the offseason program, $1 million incentive for playing 50 percent of the snaps in a Super Bowl win.
• 2023: $20 million base salary plus a $17 million roster bonus guaranteed for injury and fully guaranteed fifth day of 2022 league year. $500,000 base de-escalator for not participating in 84 percent of the offseason program, $1 million incentive for playing 50 percent of the snaps in a Super Bowl win.
• 2024: $32 million base salary, $500,000 base de-escalator for not participating in 84 percent of the offseason program, $1 million incentive for playing 50 percent of the snaps in a Super Bowl win. 
• 2025: $32 million base salary, $500,000 base de-escalator for not participating in 84 percent of the offseason program, $1 million incentive for playing 50 percent of the snaps in a Super Bowl win.